cankred brest perceiuing that as in water the more she grasped the lesse she held but yet now hauing run so long the way of rigour it was too late in reason and too contrary to her passion to returne to a course of meekenesse And therefore taking counsell of one of her olde associates who so far excelled in wickednesse as that she had not onely lost all feeling of conscience but had gotten a very glory in euill in the ende they determined that beating and other such sharp dealing did not so much pull downe a womans hart as it bred anger and that nothing was more enemy to yeelding then anger making their tender harts take on the armour of obstinacy for thus did their wicked mindes blinde to the light of vertue and owly eied in the night of wickednes interpret of it and that therefore that was no more to be tried And for feare of death which no question would doo most with them they had bene so often threatned as they began to be familiarly acquainted with it and learned to esteeme threatning words to be but words Therefore the last but best way now was that the one seeing indeede the others death should perceiue there was no dallying meant and then there was no doubt that a womans soule would do much rather then leaue so beautifull a body This being concluded Cecropia went to Philoclea and tolde her that now she was to come to the last part of the play for her part though she found her hard harted obstinacie such that neither the sweetnesse of louing meanes nor the force of hard meanes could preuaile with her yet before she would passe to a further degree of extremity she had sought to win her sister in hope that her sonne might be with time satisfied with the loue of so faire a Lady but finding her also rather more then lesse wilfull she was now minded that one of their deathes should serue for an example to the other that despising worthy folks was more hurtfull to the despiser then the despised that yet because her sonne especially affected her and that in her owne selfe she was more inclinable to pittie her then she had deserued she would begin with her sister who that afternoone should haue her head cut off before her face if in the meane time one of them did not pull out their il-wrought stiches of vnkindnes she bad her looke for no other nor longer time then she told her There was no assault giuen to the sweet Philocleas minde that entered so far as this for where to all paines and daungers of her selfe foresight with his Lieutenant Resolution had made ready defence now with the loue she bare her sister she was driuen to a stay before she determined but long she staied not before this reason did shine vnto her that since in herselfe she preferred death before such a base seruitude loue did teach her to wish the same to her sister Therefore crossing her armes and looking side-ward vpon the ground Do what you will said she with vs for my part heauen shall melt before I be remoued But if you will follow my counsell for your owne sake for as for praiers for my sake I haue felt how little they preuaile let my death first serue for example to win her who perchaunce is not so resolued against Amphialus and so shall you not onely iustly punish mee who indeede doo hate both you and your sonne but if that may mooue you you shall doo more vertuously in preseruing one most worthy of life and killing an other most desirous of death lastly in winning her in steed of a peeuish vnhappie creature that I am you shall blesse your sonne with the most excellent woman in all praise-worthy things that the world holdeth But Cecropia who had already set downe to her selfe what she would do with bitter both termes and countenaunce told her that she should not neede to woo death ouer-egerly â—or if her sister going before her did not teach her wit her selfe should quickly follow For since they were not to be gotten there was no way for her sonnes quiet but to knowe that they were past getting And so since no intreating nor threatning might preuayle she bad her prepare her eies for a new play which she should see within fewe houres in the hall of that castle A place indeed ouerfit for so vnfit a matter for being so stately made that the bottome of it being euen with the ground the roofe reached as hie as any part of the castle at either ende it had conuenient lodgings In the one ende was one storie from the ground Philocleas abode in the other of euen height Pamelas and Zelmanes in a chamber aboue her but all so vaulted of strong and thickly built stone as one could no way heare the other each of these chambers had a litle windowe to looke into the hall but because the sisters should not haue so much comforte as to looke one to another there was of the outsides curtaynes drawne which they could not reach with their hands so barring the reach of their sight But when the houre came that the Tragedie should beginne the curtaynes were withdrawen from before the windowes of Zelmane and of Philoclea a sufficient challenge to call their eyes to defende themselues in such an incounter And by and by came in at one ende of the hall with about a dozen armed souldiers a Ladie led by a couple with her handes bounde before her from aboue her eyes to her lippes muffled with a faire kerchiefe but from her mouth to the shoulders all bare and so was led on to a scaffold raised a good deale from the floore and all couered with crimsin veluet But neither Zelmane nor Philoclea needed to be tolde who she was for the apparell she ware made them too well assured that it was the admirable Pamela Whereunto the rare whitenesse of her naked necke gaue sufficient testimonie to their astonnished senses But the fayre Ladie being come to the scaffold and then made to kneele downe and so lefte by her vnkinde supporters as it seemed that she was about to speake somewhat whereunto Philoclea poore soule earnestly listned according to her speach euen minding to frame her minde her harte neuer till then almost wauering to saue her sisters life before the vnfortunate Ladie could pronounce three wordes the executioner cut off the ones speech and the others attention with making his sworde doo his cruell office vpon that beautifull necke Yet the pittilesse sworde had such pittie of so pretious an obiect that at first it did but hit flat long But little auailed that since the Ladie falling downe astonnished withall the cruell villayne forced the sworde with another blowe to diuorce the faire marriage of the head and body And this was done so in an instant that the very act did ouerrun Philocleas sorrow sorrow not being able so quickly to thunderbolt her harte thorough her senses but first
other whole bodies to see to but that their hartes wont to be bound all ouer so close were nowe with deadly violence opened in others fowler deaths had ouglily displayed their trayling guttes There lay armes whose fingers yet mooued as if they would feele for him that made them feele and legges which contrarie to common reason by being discharged of their burden were growne heauier But no sword payed so large a tribute of soules to the eternall Kingdome as that of Amphialus who like a Tigre from whome a companie of Woolues did seeke to rauish a newe gotten pray so he remembring they came to take away Philoclea did labour to make valure strength choller and hatred to answere the proportion of his loue which was infinit There died of his handes the olde knight AEschylus who though by yeares might well haue beene allowed to vse rather the exercises of wisedome then of courage yet hauing a lustie bodie and a merrie hart he euer tooke the summons of Time in iest or else it had so creepingly stollen vpon him that he had heard scarcely the noise of his feete and therefore was as fresh in apparell and as forwarde in enterprises as a farre yonger man but nothing made him bolder then a certaine prophecie had beene tolde him that he shoulde die in the armes of his sonne and therefore feared the lesse the arme of an enemie But now when Amphialus sword was passed through his throate he thought himselfe abused but that before he died his sonne indeede seeing his father beginne to fall helde him vp in his armes till a pitilesse souldier of of the other side with a mace brained him making father sonne become twinnes in the neuer againe dying birth As for Drialus Memnon Nisus and Policrates the first had his eyes cut out so as he could not see to bid the neare following death welcome the seconde had met with the same Prophet that olde AEschylus had and hauing founde many of his speeches true beleeued this to that hee should neuer bee killed but by his owne companions and therefore no man was more valiant then he against an enimie no man more suspicious of his friends so as he seemed to sleep in securitie when he went to a battell and to enter into a battaile when he began to sleepe such guards he would set about his person yet mistrusting those verie guards lest they would murther him But now Amphialus helped to vnriddle his doubtes for he ouerthrowing him from his horse his owne companions comming with a fresh supplie pressed him to death Nisus grasping with Amphialus was with a short dagger slaine And for Policrates while hee shunned as much as hee could keeping onely his place for feare of punishment Amphialus with a memorable blowe strake of his head where with the conuulsions of death setting his spurres to his horse he gaue so braue a charge vpon the enemie as it grewe a prouerbe that Policrates was onely valiant after his head was off But no man escaped so well his handes as Phebilus did for hee hauing long loued Philoclea though for the meannesse of his estate he neuer durst reueale it nowe knowing Amphialus setting the edge of a riuall vpon the sworde of an enemie he helde strong fight with him But Amphialus had already in the daungerousest places disarmed him and was lifting vp his sworde to send him away from himselfe when he thinking indeede to die O Philoclea said he yet this ioyes mee that I die for thy sake The name of Philoclea first staied his sworde and when he heard him out though heabhord him much worse then before yet could he not vouchsafe him the honour of dying for Philoclea but turned his sworde another way doing him no hurt for ouer-much hatred But what good did that to poore Phebilus if escaping a valiant hand hee was slaine by base souldiour who seeing him so disarmed thrust him through But thus with the well-followed valure of Amphialus were the other almost ouerthrowne when Philanax who was the marshall of the army came in with newe force renuing the almost decayed courage of his souldiers For crying to them and asking them whether their backes or their armes were better fighters hee himselfe thrust into the presse and making force and furie waite vppon discretion and gouernement he might seeme a braue Lion who taught his yong Lionets how in taking of a pray to ioine courage with cunning Then Fortune as if shee had made chases inow of the one side of that bloody Teniscourt went of the other side the line making as many fall downe of Amphialus followers as before had done of Philanaxis they loosing the ground as fast as before they had woon it onely leauing them to keepe it who had lost themselues in keeping it Then those that had killed inherited the lot of those that had bene killed and cruel Deaths made them lie quietly to gether who most in their liues had sought to disquiet ech other and many of those first ouerthrowne had the comfort to see the murtherers ouerrun them to Charons ferrie Codrus Ctesiphon and Milo lost their liues vpon Philanax his sword but no bodies case was more pitied then of a yong esquire of Amphialus called Ismenus who neuer abandoning his maister and making his tender age aspire to actes of the strongest manhoode in this time that his side was put to the worst and that Amphialus-his valure was the onely stay of them from deliuering themselues ouer to a shamefull flight hee sawe his masters horse killed vnder him Whereupon asking no aduise of no thought but of faithfulnes and courage he presently lighted from his owne horse and with the helpe of some choise and faithfull seruants gat his master vp But in the multitude that came of either side some to succour some to saue Amphialus hee came vnder the the hande of Philanax and the youth perceyuing he was the man that did most hurt to his partie desirous euen to change his life sor glorie strake at him as hee rode by him and gaue him a hurt vpon the legg that made Philanax turn towards him but seing him so yong and of a most louely presence he rather toke pity of him meaning to make him prisoner then to giue him to his brother Agenor to be his companion because they were not much vnlike neither in yeeres nor countenance But as he loked down vpon him with that thought he spied wher his brother lay dead his friend Leontius by him euen almost vnder the squiers feet Then soroing not only his owne sorow but the past-comfort sorow which he fore-knew his mother would take who with many teares and misgiuing sighs had suffred him to go with his elder brother Philanax blotted out all figures of pitie out of his minde and putting foorth his horse while Ismenus doubled two or three more valiant then well set blowes saying to himselfe Let other mothers bewaile and vntimely death as well as mine hee thrust
armour and deuice streight knowne to be the notable Knight who the first day had giuen Fortune so short a stoppe with his notable deedes and fighting hand to hand the deemed inuincible Amphialus Fonthe very cowardes no sooner saw him but as borrowing some of his spirit they went like yong Eagles to the pray vnder the wing of their damme For the three aduenturers not content on For her exceeding faire eyes hauing with continual weeping gotten a little rednesse about them her roundy sweetly swelling lippes a little trembling as though they kissed their neighbour death in her cheekes the whitenesse striuing by little little to get vpoÌ„ the rosines of theÌ„ her necke a necke indeed of Alablaster displaying the wound which with most daintie blood laboured to drowne his owne beauties so as here was a riuer of purest redde there an Iland of perfittest white each giuing lustre to the other with the sweete countenance God-knowes full of an vnafected languishing though these thinges to a grosly conceauing sense might seeme disgraces yetâ—indeed were they but apparaling beautie in a new fashion which all looked-vpon thorough the spectacles of pittie did euen encrease the lynes of her naturall fairenes so as Amphialus was astonished with griefe compassion and shame detesting his fortune that made him vnfortunate in victory Therefore putting off his headpeece and gauntlet kneeling downe vnto her and with teares testifying his sorow he offred his by himselfe accursed handes to helpe her protesting his life and power to be readie to doo her honour But Parthenia who had inward messingers of the desired deathes approch looking vpon him and streight turning away her feeble sight as from a delightlesse obiect drawing out her words which her breath loath to departe from so sweet a bodie did faintly deliuer Sir said she I pray you if prayers haue place in enemies to let my maides take my body vntouched by you the onely honour I now desire by your meanes is that I haue no honour of you Argalus made no such bargaine with you that the handes which killed him shoulde helpe me I haue of them and I doo not onely pardon you but thanke you for it the seruice which I desired There rests nothing now but that I go liue with him since whose death I haue done nothing but die Then pawsing and a little fainting and againe comming to herselfe O sweete life wel come saide she nowe feele I the bandes vntied of the cruell death which so long hath helde me And O life O death aunswere for mee that my thoughts haue not so much as in a dreame tasted any comfort since they were depriued of Argalus I come my Argalus I come And O God hide my faultes in thy mercies and graunt as I feele thou doost graunt that in thy eternall loue we may loue eche other eternally And this O Lorde But there Atropos cut off her sentence for with that casting vp both eyes and hands to the skies the noble soule departed one might well assure himselfe to heauen which left the bodie in so heauenly a demeanure But Amphialus with a hart oppressed with griefe because of her request withdrewe himselfe but the Iudges as full of pitie had bene al this while disarming her and her gentelwomen with lamentable cries laboring to stanch the remediles wounds and a while she was dead before they perceiued it death being able to diuide the soule but not the beauty from that body But when the infallible tokens of death assured them of their losse one of the women would haue killed her selfe but that the squire of Amphialus perceauing it by force held her Others that had as strong passion though weaker resolution fell to cast dust vppon their heads to teare their garments al falling vpon the earth crying vpon their sweet mistres as if their cries could perswade the soule to leaue the celestiall happines to come againe into the elements of sorrow one time calling to remembrance her vertue chastnes sweetnes goodnes to them another time accursing themselues that they had obeyed her they hauing bene deceaued by her words who asâ—ured theÌ„ that it was reuealed vnto her that she should haue her harts desire in the battaile against Amphialus which they wrongly vnderstood Then kissing her cold hands and feete wearie of the world since she was gone who was their world The very heauens seemed with a cloudie countenance to loure at the losse and Fame it selfe though by nature glad to tell such rare accidents yet could not choose but deliuer it in lamentable accents and in such sort went it quickly all ouer the Campe and as if the aire had bene infected with sorow no hart was so hard but was subiect to that contagion the rarenes of the accideÌ„t matching together the rarely matched together pittie with admiration Basilius himselfe came foorth and brought the faire Gynecia with him who was come into the campe vnder colour of visiting her husband and hearing of her daughters but indeed Zelmane was the Sainct to which her pilgrimage was entended cursing enuying blessing and in her hart kissing the walles which imprisoned her But both they with Philanax and the rest of the principall Nobilitie went out to make Honour triumph ouer Death conueying that excellent body whereto Basilius himselfe would needes lende his shoulder to a Church a mile from the Campe where the valiant Argalus lay intombed recommending to that sepulchre the blessed reliques of faithfull and vertuous Loue giuing order for the making of marble images to represent them and each way enriching the tombe Vpon which Basilius himselfe caused this Epitaph to be written The Epitaph HIs being was in her alone And he not being she was none They ioi'd one ioy one griefe they grieu'd One loue they lou'd one life they liu'd The hand was one one was the sword That did his death hir death afford As all the rest so now the stone That tombes the two is iustly one ARGALVS PARTHENIA Then with eyes full of teares and mouthes full of her prayses returned they to the campe with more and more hate against Amphialus who poore Gentleman had therefore greater portion of woe then any of them For that courteous hearte which would haue grieued but to haue heard the like aduenture was rent with remembring himselfe to be the author so that his wisdome could not so far temper his passion but that he tooke his sword counted the best in the world which with much bloud he had once conquered of a mighty Giant and brake it into many peeces which afterwards he had good cause to repent saying that neither it was worthy to serue the noble exercise of chiualrie nor any other worthy to feele that sword which had stroken so excelleÌ„t a Lady and withall banishing all cheerfulnes of his countenance he returned home Where he gate him to his bed not so much to rest his restles mind as to auoid all company the sight wherof was tedious vnto him
insupportable and yet in deapth of her soule most deserued made it more miserable At length letting her tong goe as her dolorous thoughts guided it she thus with lamentable demeanour spake O bottomles pit of sorrowe in which I cannot conteyne my selfe hauing the fyrebrands of all furyes within me still falling and yet by the infinitenes of it neuer falne Neyther can I ridde myselfe being fettred with the euerlasting consideracion of it For whether should I recommend the protection of my dishonored fall to the earth it hath no life and waites to be encreased by the reliques of my shamed carcasse to men who are alwayes cruell in their neighboures faultes and make others ouerthrowe become the badge of their ill masked vertue to the heauens ô vnspeakeable torment of conscience which dare not looke vnto them No sinne can enter there oh there is no receipt for polluted mindes Whether then wilt thou leade this captiue of thine ô snakye despayre Alas alas was this the free-holding power that accursed poyson hath graunted vnto me that to be held the surer it should depriue life was this the folding in mine armes promised that I should fould nothing but a dead body O mother of mine what a deathfull sucke haue you geuen me O Philoclea Philoclea well hath my mother reuenged vppon me my vnmotherly hating of thee O Zelmane to whome yet least any miserye should fayle me remayne some sparkes of my detestable loue if thou hast as now alas now my minde assures me thou hast deceaued me there is a fayre stage prepared for thee to see the tragicall ende of thy hated loues With that worde there flowed out two riuers of teares out of her fayre eyes which before were drye the remembraunce of her other mischiefes being dryed vp in furious fyre of selfe detestation loue only according to the temper of it melting it selfe into those briny tokens of passion Then turning her eyes agayne vpon the body she remembred a dreame she had had some nights before wherein thinking herselfe called by Zelmane passing a troublesome passage she found a dead body which tolde her there should be her only rest This no sooner caught holde of her remembraunce then that she determining with her selfe it was a directe vision of her fore-appoynted ende tooke a certayne resolucion to embrace death assoone as it should be offred vnto her and no way to seeke the prolonging of her annoyed life And therefore kissing the cold face of Basilius And euen so will I rest sayd she and ioyne this faultye soule of mine to thee if so much the angry gods will graunt mee As shee was in this plight the Sunne nowe climing ouer our Horizon the first Shepherds came by who seeing the King in that case and hearing the noyse Damaetas made of the Lady Philoclea ranne with the dolefull tidings of Basilius death vnto him who presently with all his company came to the Caues entrye where the Kings body lay Damaetas for his parte more glad for the hope he had of his priuate escape then sorye for the publike losse his Countrie receaued for a Prince not to be misliked But in Gynaecia nature preuayled aboue iudgement and the shame shee conceaued to be taken in that order ouercame for that instant the former resolucion so that assoone as she sawe the formost of the pastorall troupe the wretched Princesse ranne to haue hid her face in the next woods but with such a minde that she knewe not almost her selfe what she could wish to be the grounde of her safetie Damaetas that sawe her runne awaye in Zelmanes vpper rayment and iudging her to be so thought certaynely all the spirits in hell were come to play a Tragedie in these woods such strange change he sawe euery way The King dead at the Caues mouth the Queene as hee thought absent Pamela fledde away with Dorus his wife and Mopsa in diuers franzies But of all other things Zelmane conquered his capacitie sodainly from a woman growne to a man and from a lockt chamber gotten before him into the fieldes which hee gaue the rest quicklie to vnderstande for in steede of doing any thing as the exigent required he beganne to make circles and all those fantasticall defences that hee had euer hearde were fortifications against Diuells But the other Shepheards who had both better wittes and more faith forthwith deuided themselues some of them running after Gynecia and esteeming her running away a great condemnation of her owne guiltinesse others going to their Prince to see what seruice was left for them eyther in recouerie of his life or honoring his death They that went after the Queene had soone ouertaken her in whome nowe the fyrst feares were stayde and the resolucion to dye had repossessed his place in her minde But when they sawe it was the Queene to whome besides the obedient dutie they ow'de to her state they had alwayes carried a singuler loue for her courteous liberalities and other wise and vertuous partes which had filled all that people with affection and admiracion They were all sodainely stopped beginning to aske pardon for their followinge her in that sorte and desiring her to be their good Ladie as she had euer bene But the Queene who nowe thirsted to be ridde of her selfe whome she hated aboue all thinges with such an assured countenance as they haue who alreadie haue dispensed with shame and digested the sorrowes of death she thus sayde vnto them Continue continue my friends your doing is better then your excusing the one argues assured faith the other want of assurance If you loued your Prince when he was able and willing to doo you much good which you could not then requite to him doo you now publish your gratefulnes when it shall be seene to the world there are no hopes left to leade you vnto it Remember remember you haue lost Basilius a Prince to defend you a Father to care for you a companyon in your ioyes a friend in your wants And if you loued him shew you hate the author of his losse It is I faithfull Arcadians that haue spoyled the Countrie of their protector I none but I was the minister of his vnnaturall end Cary therfore my blood in your hāds to testifie your own innocencie neither spare for my titles sake but consider it was he that so entituled me And if you think of any benefits by my meanes thinke with it that I was but the instrumēt and he the spring What stay ye Shepheards whose great Shepheard is gone you neede not feare a woman reuerence your Lords murtherer nor haue pittie of her who hath not pittie of herself With this she presented her faire neck some by name others by signes desired them to do iustice to the world dutie to their good king honor to themselues and fauour to her The poore men looked one vpon the other vnused to be arbiters in Princes matters and being now falne into a great perplexitie betwixt a Prince dead
no time nor place will euer bee forgiuen you They that yet trusted not to his courtesie bad him stande further off from his sword which he obediently did So farre was loue aboue al other thoughts in him Then did they call together the rest of their fellowes who though they were fewe yet according to their number possesâ—ed many places And then began these sauage Senators to make a consultation what they should do some wishing to spoile them of their Iewels and let them go on their iourney for that if they carried them back they were sure they should haue least parte of their pray others preferring their old homes to any thing desired to bring them to Basilius as pledges of their surety and ther wanted not which cried the safest way was to kill them both to such an vnworthy thraldom were these great and excellent personages brought But the most part resisted to the killing of the Princesse fore-seing their liues would neuer bee safe after such a fact committed and beganne to wish rather the spoyle then death of Musidorus when the villaine that had his legge cut off came scrawling towardes them and being helped to them by one of the companie began with a growning voice and a disfigured face to demaunde the reuenge of his blood which since hee had spent with them in their defence it were no reason he should be suffered by them to die discontented The onely contentment he required was that by their helpe with his own hands he might put his murderer to some cruel death he would faine haue cried more against Musidorus but that the much losse of bloud helped on with this vehemencie choked vp the spirits of his life leauing him to make betwixt his body and soule an ill fauoured partition But they seing their fellow in that sorte die before their faces did swell in newe mortall rages All resolued to kill him but nowe onely considering what manner of terrible death they should inuent for him Thus was a while the agrement of his slaying broken by the disagrement of the manner of it extremitie of cruelty grew for a time to be the stop of crueltie At length they were resolued euery one to haue a pece of him and to become all aswell hangmen as iudges when Pamela tearing her heare and falling downe among them somtimes with al the sorte of humble praiers mixt with promises of great good turnes which they knew her state was able to performe sometimes threatning them that if they kild him and not her she would not onely reuenge it vpon them but vpon all their wiues and children bidding them consider that though they might thinke shee was come away in her fathers displeasure yet they might be sure hee would euer shewe himselfe a father that the Gods woulde neuer if shee liued put her in so base estate but that she should haue abilitie to plague such as they were returning a fresh to prayers and promises and mixing the same againe with threatninges brought them who were now growne colder in their fellowes cause who was past aggrauating the matter with his cryes to determine with themselues there was no way but either to kil them both or saue them both As for the killing already they hauing aunsweared themselues that that was a way to make them Cittezens of the woodes for euer they did in fine conclude they would retourne them backe againe to the King which they did not doubt would bee cause of a greate reward besides their safetie from their fore-deserued punishment Thus hauing either by fortune or the force of those two louers inward working vertue setled their cruel harts to this geÌ„tler course they tooke the two horses and hauing set vpon them their princely prisoners they retorned towards the lodge The villaines hauing decked al their heads with lawrel branches as thinking they had done a notable acte singing and showting ranne by them in hope to haue brought them the same day againe to the King But the time was so farre spent that they were forced to take vp that nights lodging in the middest of the woods Where while the clownes continued their watch about them nowe that the night according to his darke nature did add a kind of desolation to the pensiue harts of these two afflicted louers Musidorus taking the tender hand of Pamela bedewing it with his tearesâ— in this sort gaue an issue to the swelling of his harts grief Most excellent Lady said hee in what case thinke you am I with my selfe howe vnmerciful iudgements do I lay vpon my soule now that I know not what God hath so reuerssed my wel meaning enterprise as in steed of doing you that honour which I hoped and not without reason hoped Thessalia should haue yeelded vnto you am now like to become a wretched instrumeÌ„t of your discomfort Alas how contrary an end haue al the enclinations of my mind taken my faith falls out a treason vnto you and the true honour I beare you is the fielde wherein your dishonour is like to bee sowen But I inuoke that vniuersal and only wisdome which examining the depth of harts hath not his indgement fixed vpon the euent to beare testimonie with me that my desire though in extremest vehemencie yet did not so ouercharge my remembrance but that as farre as mans wit might be extended I sought to preuent al-things that might fall to your hurt But now that all the euil fortunes of euil fortune haue crossed my best framed entent I am most miserable in that that I cannot only not geue you helpe but which is worst of all am barred from giuing you counsail For how should I open my mouth to counsaile you in that wherein by my councel you are most vndeseruedly fallen The faire and wise Pamela although full of cares of the vnhappie turning of this matter yet seing the greefe of Musidorus onely stirred for her did so treade downe all other motions with the true force of vertue that she thus aunswered him hauing first kissed him which before she had neuer done either loue so coÌ„maunding her which doubted how long they should enioy one another or of a liuely spark of noblenes to descend in most fauour to one when he is lowest in affliction My deere and euer deere Musidorus said shee a greater wronge doe you to your selfe that will torment you thus with griefe for the fault of fortune Since a man is bound no further to himselfe then to doe wisely chaunce is only to trouble them that stand vpon chaunce But greater is the wronge at least if any thinge that comes from you may beare the name of wrong you doe vnto me to thinke me either so childish as not to perceaue your faithful faultlessnes or perceauing it so basely disposed as to let my harte be ouerthrown standing vpon it selfe in so vnspotted a purenes Hold for certaine most worthy Musidorus it is your selfe I loue which can no more be diminished by these showers
into his inuectiue oration Staye staie Philanax saide shee do not defile thy honest mouth with those dishonourable speeches thou arte about to vtter against a woman now most wretched lately thy mistresse Let either the remembraunce how great she was moue thy harte to some reuerence or the seing how lowe she is sturre in thee some pittie It may be truth doth make thee deale vntruely and loue of iustice frames vniustice in thee doe not therefore neither shalt thou neede treade vpon my desolate ruines Thou shalt haue that thou seekest and yet shalt not be oppressoure of her who cannot choose but loue thee for thy singular faith to thy master I doe not speake this to procure mercie or to prolong my life no no I say vnto you I will not liue but I am onely loth my death shoulde bee engreeued with any wronge thou shouldest doe vnto me I haue beene to painefull a iudge ouer my selfe to desire pardon in others iudgement I haue beene to cruell an executioner of mine owne soule to desire that execution of iustice shoulde bee stayed for me Alas they that know how sorrow can rent the spirits they that know what fiery hells are cōtiened in a self condemning mind need not feare that feare can keepe such a one from desiring to be seperated from that which nothing but death can seperate I therefore say to thee O iust iudge that I and only I was the worker of Basilius death They were these handes that gaue vnto him that poysonous potion that hath brought death to him and losse to Arcadia it was I and none but I that hastened his aged yeares to an vnnaturall end and that haue made all his people orphans of their royall father I am the subiect that haue killed my Prince I am the wife that haue murdred my husband I am a degenerate woman an vndoer of this countrie a shame of my children What wouldest thou haue saide more Oh Philanax and all this I graunt there resteth then nothing els to say but that I desire you you will appointe quicklie somme to ridd mee of my life rather then these handes which ells are destenied vnto it and that indeede it maye bee doone with such speede as I may not long dye in this life which I haue in so greate horrour with that shee crossed her armes and sate downe vppon the grounde attending the iudges aunswere But a greate while it was before anye boddye coulde bee heard speake the whole people concurring in a lamentable crye so much had Gynecias wordes and behauiour sturred their hartes to a dolefull compassion neither in troath coulde most of them in their iudgements tell whether they shoulde bee more sorrie for her faulte or her miserie for the losse of her estate or losse of her vertue But most were most moued with that which was vnder there eyes the sense most subiecte to pittie But at length the reuerent awe they stoode in of Euarchus brought them to a silent wayting his determination who hauing well considered the abhomination of the facte attending more the manifest proofe of so horrible a trespasse confessed by her selfe and proued by others then any thing relenting to those tragicall phrases of hers apter to sturre a vulgare pittie then his minde which hated euill in what culloures so euer he founde it hauing considered a while with the principall men of the country and demaunded there allowance he definitiuely gaue this sentence That where as both in priuate and publike respectes this woman had most haynously offēded in priuate because marriage being the most holy coniunction that falls to mankinde out of which all families and so consequently all societies doe proceede which not onely by communitie goods but communitie children is to knit the mindes in a most perfet vnion which who so breakes dissolues al humanitie no man liuing free from the danger of so neere a neighbour she had not onely broken it but broken it with death and the most pretended death that might be In publike respect the Princes persons being in all monarchall gouernmentes the very knot of the peoples welfare and light of all their doinges to which they are not onely in conscience but in necessitie bounde to be loyall she had trayterously empoysoned him neither regarding her contries profit her owne dutie nor the rigor of the lawes That therefore as well for the due satisfaction to eternall iustice and accomplishment of the Arcadian statutes as for the euerlasting example to all wiues and subiectes she should presently be conueyed to cloase prison and there be kept with such foode as might serue to sustaine her aliue vntill the day of her husbands buryall at which time shee shoulde bee buried quicke in the same tombe with hime That so his murder might bee a murder to her selfe and she forced to keepe company with the body from which she had made so detestable a seuerance And lastly death might redresse their disioyned coniunction of marriage His iudgement was receaued of the whole assemblie as not with disliking so with great astonishmēt the greatnes of the matter and person as it were ouerpressing the might of their conceites But when they did set it to the beame with the monstrousnes of her ouglye misdeede they coulde not but yeeld in their hartes there was no ouerbalancing As for Gynecia who had already setled her thoughts not only to look but long for this euent hauing in this time of her vexation found a sweetnes in the rest she hoped by death with a countenaunce witnessing she had before hand so passed thorowe all the degrees of sorrowe that shee had no new looke to figure forth any more rase vp and offred forth her faite handes to bee bounde or led as they would being indeed troubled with no parte of this iudgement but that her death was as she thought long delayed They that were appointed for it conueyed her to the place she was in before where the guarde was relieued and the number encreased to keepe her more sure for the time of her execution None of them all that led her though most of them were such whose harts had beene long hardned with the often exercising such offices being able to barre teares from their eyes and others manifest tokens of compassionate sorrow So goodly a vertue is a resolute constancie that euen in euill deseruers it seemes that partie might haue beene notably well deseruing Thus the excellent Lady Gynecia hauing passed fiue and thirtie yeares of her age euen to admiration of her beautifull minde and body and hauing not in her owne knowledge euer spotted her soule with any wilfull vice but her imoderate loue of Zelmane was brought first by the violence of that ill answered passion and then by the dispayring conceite she took of the iudgement of God in her husbandes death and her owne fortune purposely to ouerthrowe her selfe and confirme by a wronge confession that abhominable shame which with her wisdome ioynde to the truth perhappes
in nature vnhappy by fortune But most wretched I am now loue awakes my desire Dorus when he had soong this hauing had all the while a free beholding of the faire Pamela who could well haue spared such honor and defended the assault he gaue vnto hir face with bringing a faire staine of shamefastnes vnto it let fall his armes and remained so fastened in his thoughts as if Pamela had graffed him there to growe in continuall imagination But Zelmane espying it and fearing he should too much forget himselfe she came to him and tooke out of his hand the Lute and laying fast hold of Philocleas face with her eyes she soong these Sapphikes speaking as it were to hir owne hope If mine eyes can speake to doo harty errande Or mine eyes language she doo hap to iudge of So that eyes message be of her receaued Hope we do liue yet But if eyes faile then when I most doo need them Or if eyes language be not vnto her knowne So that eyes message doo returne reiected Hâ—pe we doo both dye Yet dying and dead doo we sing her honour So become our tombes monuments of her praise So becomes our losse the triumph of her gaine Hers be the glory If the spheares senselesse doo yet hold a musique If the Swannes sweet voice be not heard but at death If the mute timber when it hath the life lost Yeldeth a Lutes tune Are then humane mindes priuiledg'd so meanly As that hatefull death can abridge them of powre With the vowe of truth to record to all worlds That we be her spoiles Thus not ending ends the due praise of her praise Fleshly vaile consumes but a soule hath his life Which is held in loue loue it is that hath ioynd Life to this our soule But if eyes can speake to doo harty errand Or mine eyes language she doo hap to iudge of So that eyes message be of her receaued Hope we do liue yet Great was the pleasure of Basilius and greater would haue bene Gynaecias but that she found too well it was intended to her daughter As for Philoclea she was swetely rauished withall When Dorus desiring in a secret maner to speake of their cases as perchance the parties intended might take some light of it making lowe reuerence to Zelmane began this prouoking song in hexameter verse vnto her Wherevnto she soone finding whither his words were directed in like tune and verse answered as foloweth Dorus. Zelmane Dorus. Lady reserud by the heau'ns to do pastors company honnor Ioyning your sweete voice to the rurall muse of a deserte Here you fully do finde this strange operation of loue How to the woods loue runnes as well as rydes to the Pallace Neither he beares reuerence to a Prince nor pittie to begger But like a point in midst of a circle is still of a neernesse All to a lesson he draw's nether hills nor caues can auoide him Zelmane Worthy shepeheard by my song to my selfe all fauor is happned That to the sacred Muse my anoyes somewhat be reuealed Sacred Muse who in one contaynes what nine do in all them But ô happy be you which safe from fyry reflection Of Phoebus violence in shade of sweet Cyparissus Or pleasant mirtell may teach th' vnfortunate Echo In these woods to resounde the renowmed name of a goddesse Happy be you that may to the saint your onely Idea Although simply atyrde your manly affection vtter Happy be those mishapps which iustly proportion holding Giue right sound to the eares and enter aright to the iudgement But wretched be the soules which vaild in a contrary subiect How much more we do loue so the lesse our loues be beleeued What skill salueth a soare of a wrong infirmity iudged What can iustice auaile to a man that tells not his owne case You though feares do abash in you still possible hopes be Nature against we do seeme to rebell seeme fooles in a vaine sute But so vnheard condemn'd kept thence we do seeke to abide in Selfe-lost in wandring banished that place we doe come from What meane is there alas we can hope our losse to recouer What place is there left we may hope our woes to recomfort Vnto the heau'ns our wings be too short earth thinks vs a burden Aire we do still with sighes encrease to the fire we do want none And yet his outward heate our teares would quench but an inward Fire no liquor can coole Neptunes realme would not auaile vs. Happy shepheard with thanks to the Gods still thinke to be thankfull That to thy aduauncement their wisdomes haue thee abased Dorus. Vnto the Gods with a thanckfull heart all thankes I do render That to my aduauncement their wisdomes haue me abased But yet alas O but yet alas our happs be but hard happs Which must frame contempt to the fittest purchase of honnour Well may a Pastor plaine but alas his plaints be not esteem'de Silly shepheards poore pype when his harsh sound testifi's anguish Into the faire looker on pastime not passion enters And to the woods or brookes who do make such dreery recitall What be the pangs they beare and whence those pangs be deriued Pleasd to receaue that name by rebounding answere of Echo May hope therby to ease their inward horrible anguish When trees daunce to the pype and swift streames stay by the musicke Or when an Echo begins vnmou'd to sing them a loue song Say then what vantage do we get by the trade of a Pastor Since no estates be so base but loue vouchsafeth his arrow Since no refuge doth serue from woundes we do carry about vs Since outward pleasures be but halting helpes to decayd soules Saue that dayly we may discerne what fire we do burne in Farre more happy be you whose greatnes gets a free accesse Whose faire bodily gifts are fram'd most louely to each ey Vertue you haue of vertue you haue left proofe to the whole world And vertue is gratefull with bewty and richnes adorned Neither doubt you awhit time will your passion vtter Hardly remains fyer hid where skill is bent to the hiding But in a minde that would his flames should not be repressed Nature worketh enough with a small help for the reuealing Giue therefore to the Muse great praise in whose very likenes You doo approch to the fruite your onely desir's be to gather Zelmane First shall fertill grounds not yeeld increase of a good seed First the riuers shall ceasse to repay their fludds to the Occean First may a trusty Greyhounde transforme himselfe to a Tigre First shall vertue be vice and bewty be counted a blemishe Ere that I leaue with song of praise her praise to solemnize Her praise whence to the world all praise hath his only beginning But yet well I doo finde each man most wise in his owne case None can speake of a wound with skill if he haue not a wound felt Great to thee my state seemes thy state is blest by my
was vpon the scaffold separaâ—ed somewhat from the rest as allowed to say something he stept vnto him and putting the sworde into his hande not bound a point of ciuility the officers vsed towards him because they doubted no such enterprise Musidorus said he die nobly In truth neuer man betweene ioy before knowledge what to be glad of and feare after considering his case had such a confusion of thoughts as I had when I saw Pyrocles so neare me But with that Dorus blushed and Pamela smiled and Dorus the more blushed at her smiling and she the more smiled at his blushing because he had with the remembraunce of that plight he was in forgotten in speaking of him selfe to vse the third person But Musidorus turned againe her thoughts from his cheekes to his tongue in this sort But said he when they were with swordes in handes not turning backs one to the other for there they knew was no place of defence but making it a preseruation in not hoping to be preserued and now acknowledging themselues subiect to death meaning onely to do honour to their princely birth they flew amongst them all for all were enimies and had quickly either with flight or death left none vpon the scaffold to annoy them Wherein Pyrocles the excellent Pyrocles did such wonders beyond beliefe as was hable to leade Musidorus to courage though he had bene borne a coward But indeed iust rage and desperate vertue did such effects that the popular sort of the beholders began to be almost superstitiously amazed as at effects beyond mortall power But the King with angry threatnings from-out a window where he was not ashamed the world should behold him a beholder commaunded his gard and the rest of his souldiers to hasten their death But many of them lost their bodies to loose their soules when the Princes grew almost so weary as they were ready to be conquered with conquering But as they were still fighting with weake armes and strong harts it happened that one of the souldiers commaunded to go vp after his fellowes against the Princes hauing receiued a light hurt more wounded in his hart went backe with as much diligence as he came vp with modestie which another of his fellowes seeing to pike a thanke of the King strake him vpon the face reuiling him that so accompanied he would runne away from so fewe But he as many times it falls out onely valiant when he was angrie in reuenge thrust him through which with his death was streight reuenged by a brother of his and that againe requited by a fellow of the others There began to be a great tumult amongst the souldiers which seene and not vnderstood by the people vsed to feares but not vsed to be bolde in them some began to crie treason and that voice streight multiplying it selfe the King O the cowardise of a guiltie conscience before any man set vpon him fled away Where-with a bruit either by arte of some well meaning men or by such chaunce as such things often fall out by ran from one to the other that the King was slaine wherewith certaine yong men of the brauest mindes cried with lowde voice Libertie and encouraging the other Citizens to follow them set vpon the garde and souldiers as chiefe instruments of Tyrannie and quickly aided by the Princes they had left none of them aliue nor any other in the cittie who they thought had in any sort set his hand to the worke of their seruitude and God knowes by the blindnesse of rage killing many guiltles persons either for affinity to the Tyrant or enmitie to the tyrant-killers But some of the wiser seeing that a popular licence is indeede the many-headed tyranny preuailed with the rest to make Musidorus their chiefe choosing one of them because Princes to defend them and him because elder and most hated of the Tyrant and by him to be ruled whom foorthwith they lifted vp Fortune I thinke smiling at her worke therein that a scaffold of execution should grow a scaffold of coronation But by and by there came newes of more certaine truth that the King was not dead but fled to a strong castle of his neere hand where he was gathering forces in all speed possible to suppresse this mutinie But now they had run themselues too farre out of breath to go backe againe the same career and too well they knew the sharpnesse of his memorie to forget such an iniury therefore learning vertue of necessitie they continued resolute to obey Musidorus Who seing what forces were in the citie with them issued against the Tyrant while they were in this heat before practises might be vsed to disseuer them and with them met the King who likewise hoping little to preuaile by time knowing and finding his peoples hate met him with little delay in the field where him selfe was slaine by Musidorus after he had seene his onely sonne a Prince of great courage beautie but fostred in bloud by his naughty Father slaine by the hand of Pyrocles This victory obteined with great and truly not vndeserued honour to the two Princes the whole estates of the country with one consent gaue the crowne and all other markes of soueraigntie to Musidorus desiring nothing more then to liue vnder such a gouernment as they promised themselues of him But he thinking it a greater greatnes to giue a kingdome then get a kingdome vnderstanding that there was left of the bloud Roiall and next to the succession an aged Gentleman of approued goodnes who had gotten nothing by his cousins power but danger from him and odiousnes for him hauing past his time in modest secrecy and asmuch from entermedling in matters of gouernment as the greatnesse of his bloud would suffer him did after hauing receiued the full power to his owne hands resigne all to the noble-man but with such conditions and cautions of the conditions as might assure the people with asmuch assurance as worldly matters beare that not onely that gouernour of whom indeed they looked for all good but the nature of the gouernment should be no way apt to decline to Tyranny This dooing set foorth no lesse his magnificence then the other act did his magnanimitie so that greatly praysed of all and iustly beloued of the new King who in all both wordes and behauiour protested him selfe their Tenaunt and Liegeman they were drawne thence to reuenge those who seruants of theirs of whose memorable faith I told you most excellent Princesse in willingly giuing themselues to be drowned for their sakes but drowned indeed they were not but gat with painefull swimming vpon a rocke from whence after being come as neere famishing as before drowning the weather breaking vp they were brought to the maine land of Pontus the same country vpon which Musidorus also was fallen but not in so luckie a place For they were brought to the King of that country a Tyrant also not thorow suspition greedines or reuengefulnes as he of
possesseth thee But if thou wilt do it canst thou do it canst thou force thy hart Thinke with thy selfe if this man haue thee thou shalt neuer haue more part of Antiphilus then if he were dead But thus much more that the affection shal be still gnawing and the remorse still present Death perhaps will coole the rage of thy affection where thus thou shalt euer loue and euer lacke Thinke this beside if thou marrie Tiridates Antiphilus is so excellent a man that long he cannot be from being in some high place maried canst thou suffer that too If an other kill him he doth him the wrong if thou abuse thy body thou doost him the wrong His death is a worke of nature and either now or at another time he shal die But it shal be thy worke thy shamefull worke which is in thy power to shun to make him liue to see thy faith falsified and his bed defiled But when Loue had well kindled that partie of her thoughts then went he to the other side What said he O Erona and is thy Loue of Antiphilus come to that point as thou doost now make it a question whether he shall die or no O excellent affection which for too much loue will see his head off Marke well the reasons of the other side and thou shalt see it is but loue of thy selfe which so disputeth Thou canst not abide Tiridates this is but loue of thy selfe thou shalt be ashamed to looke vpon him afterward this is but feare of shame and loue of thy selfe thou shalt want him as much then this is but loue of thy selfe he shal be married if he be well why should that grieue thee but for loue of thy selfe No no pronounce these words if thou canst let Antiphilus die Then the images of each side stood before her vnderstanding one time she thought she saw Antiphilus dying an other time she thought Antiphilus sawe her by Tiridates enioyed twenty times calling for a seruaunt to carry message of yeelding but before he came the minde was altered She blusht when she considered the effect of granting she was pale when she remembred the fruits of denying For weeping sighing wringing her hands and tearing her haire were indifferent of both sides Easily she would haue agreed to haue broken all disputations with her owne death but that the feare of Antiphilus furder torments staied her At length euen the euening before the day apointed of his death the determination of yeelding preuailed especially growing vpon a message of Antiphilus who with all the coniuring termes he could deuise besought her to saue his life vpon any conditions But she had no sooner sent her messenger to Tiridates but her mind changed and she went to the two yong Princes Pyrocles and Musidorus falling downe at their feet desired them to try some way for her deliuerance shewing her selfe resolued not to ouer-liue Antiphilus nor yet to yeeld to Tiridates They that knew not what she had done in priuate prepared that night accordingly as sometimes it fals out that what is inconstancy seemes cunning so did this change indeed stand in as good steed as a witty dissimulation For it made the King as reckles as them diligent so that in the dead time of the night the Princes issued out of the towne with whom she would needs go either to die her selfe or reskew Antiphilus hauing no armour nor weapon but affection And I cannot tell you how by what deuise though Plangus at large described it the conclusion was the wonderfull valour of the two Princes so preuailed that Antiphilus was succoured and the King slaine Plangus was then the chiefe man left in the campe and therefore seeing no other remedie conueied in safety into her country Artaxia now Queene of Armenia who with true lamentations made known to the world that her new greatnes did no way comfort her in respect of her brothers losse whom she studied all meanes possible to reuenge vpon euery one of the occasioners hauing as she thought ouerthrowne her brother by a most abhominable treason In somuch that being at home she proclaimed great rewards to any priuate man and her selfe in mariage to any Prince that would destroy Pyrocles and Musidorus But thus was Antiphilus redeemed and though against the consent of all her nobility married to Erona in which case the two Greeke Princes being called away by an other aduenture left them But now me thinkes as I haue read some Poets who when they intend to tell some horrible matter they bid men shun the hearing of it so if I do not desire you to stop your eares from me yet may I wel desire a breathing time before I am to tell the execrable treason of Antiphilus that brought her to this misery and withall wish you all that from all mankind indeed you stop your eares O most happy were we if we did set our loues one vpon another And as she spake that word her cheekes in red letters writ more then her tongue did speake And therefore since I haue named Plangus I pray you sister said she helpe me with the rest for I haue held the stage long inough and if it please you to make his fortune knowne as I haue done Eronas I will after take hart againe to go on with his falshood and so betweene vs both my Ladie Zelmane shall vnderstand both the cause and parties of this Lamentation Nay I beshrow me then said Miso I will none of that I promise you as long as I haue the gouernmēt I wil first haue my tale then my Lady Pamela my Lady Zelmane my daughter Mopsa for Mopsa was then returned from Amphialus may draw cuts the shortest cut speake first For I tell you and this may be suffred when you are married you will haue first and last word of your husbands The Ladies laughed to see with what an eger earnestnesse she looked hauing threatning not onely in her Ferret eies but while she spake her nose seeming to threaten her chin her shaking lims one to threaten another But there was no remedy they must obey and Miso sitting on the ground with her knees vp and her hands vpon her knees tuning her voice with many a quauering cough thus discoursed vnto them I tell you true said she whatsoeuer you thinke of me you will one day be as I am I simple though I sit here thought once my pennie as good siluer as some of you do and if my father had not plaid the hasty foole it is no lie I tell you I might haue had an other-gaines husband then Dametas But let that passe God amend him and yet I speake it not without good cause You are full in your tittle tattlings of Cupid here is Cupid there is Cupid I will tell you now what a good old womā told me what an old wise man told her what a great learned clerke told him and gaue it him in writing and here I
had receiued that naughtie Plexirtus into a streight degree of fauour his goodnesse being as apt to be deceiued as the others craft was to deceiue Till by plaine proofe finding that the vngratefull man went about to poyson him yet would not suffer his kindnesse to be ouercome not by iustice it selfe but calling him to him vsed words to this purpose Plexirtus said he this wickednesse is founde by thee No good deedes of mine haue bene able to keepe it downe in thee All men counsell me to take away thy life likely to bring foorth nothing but as daungerous as wicked effects But I cannot finde it in my harte remembring what fathers sonne thou art But since it is the violence of ambition which perchaunce puls thee from thine owne iudgement I will see whether the satisfying that may quiet the ill working of thy spirites Not farre hence is the great cittie of Trebisonde which with the territorie about it aunciently pertained vnto this crowne now vniustly possessed and as vniustly abused by those who haue neither title to holde it nor vertue to rule it To the conquest of that for thy selfe I will lende thee force and giue thee my right Go therefore and with lesse vnnaturalnesse glut thy ambition there and that done if it be possible learne vertue Plexirtus mingling forsworne excuses with false-meant promises gladly embraced the offer and hastilie sending backe for those two Brothers who at that time were with vs succouring the gratious Queene Erona by their vertue chiefly if not onely obteined the conquest of that goodly dominion Which indeede done by them gaue them such an authoritie that though he raigned they in effect ruled most men honouring them because they onely deserued honour and many thinking therein to please Plexirtus considering how much he was bound vnto them while they likewise with â— certaine sincere boldnesse of selfe-warranting friendship accepted all openly and plainely thinking nothing should euer by Plexirtus be thought too much in them since all they were was his But he who by the rules of his own mind could construe no other end of mens doings but selfe seking sodenly feared what they could doo and as sodainely suspected what they would doo and as sodainly hated them as hauing both might and minde to doo But dreading their power standing so strongly in their owne valour and others affection he durst not take open way against them and as hard it was to take a secrete they being so continually followed by the best and euery way hablest of that region and therefore vsed this diuelish sleight which I will tell you not doubting most wicked man to turne their owne friendship toward him to their owne destruction He knowing that they well knew there was no friendship betweene him and the new King of Pontus neuer since he succoured Leonatus and vs to his ouerthrow gaue them to vnderstand that of late there had passed secrete defiance betweene them to meete priuately at a place apointed Which though not so fit a thing for men of their greatnes yet was his honour so engaged as he could not go backe Yet faining to find himselfe weake by some counterfait infirmitie the day drawing neere he requested each of them to go in his stead making either of theÌ„ sweare to keepe the matter secret euen ech from other deliuering the selfe same particularities to both but that he told Tydeus the King would meet him in a blew armour and Telenor that it was a black armour and with wicked subtiltie as if it had bene so apointed caused Tydeus to take a black armour and Telenor a blew appointing them waies how to go so as he knew they should not meet till they came to the place appointed where each had promised to keepe silence lest the King should discouer it was not Plexirtus and there in a wait had he laied these murtherers that who ouerliued the other should by them be dispatched he not daring trust more then those with that enterprise and yet thinking them too few till themselues by themselues were weakened This we learned chiefly by the chiefe of those way-beaters after the death of those two worthie brothers whose loue was no lesse then their valour but well we might finde much thereof by their pitifull lamentation when they knew their mismeeting and saw each other in despite of the Surgerie we could doo vnto them striuing who should runne fastest to the goale of death each bewailing the other and more dying in the other then in himselfe cursing their owne hands for doing and their breastes for not sooner suffering detesting their vnfortunately-spent time in hauing serued so vngratefull a Tyraunt and accusing their folly in hauing beleeued he could faithfully loue who did not loue faithfulnes wishing vs to take heed how we placed our good will vpon any other ground then proofe of vertue since length of acquaintance mutuall secrecies nor height of benefits could binde a sauage harte no man being good to other that is not good in himselfe Then while any hope was beseeching vs to leaue the care of him that besought and onely looke to the other But when they found by themselues and vs no possibilitie they desired to be ioined and so embracing and crauing that pardon each of other which they denied to themselues they gaue vs a most sorrowfull spectacle of their death leauing â—ew in the world behind them their matches in any thing if they had soone inough knowne the ground and limits of friendship But with wofull hartes we caused those bodies to be conueyed to the next towne of Bythinia where we learning thus much as I haue tolde you caused the wicked Historian to conclude his story with his owne well-deserued death But then I must tell you I found such wofull countenances in Daiphantus that I could not but much maruaile finding them coÌ„tinew beyond the first assault of pittie how the case of strangers for further I did not conceiue could so deepely pearce But the truth indeed is that partly with the shame and sorrow she tooke of her fathers faultinesse partly with the feare that the hate I conceiued against him would vtterly disgrace her in my opinion whensoeuer I should know her so vehemeÌ„tly perplexed her that her fayre colour decaied and dayly hastily grew into the very extreme working of sorowfulnes which oft I sought to learne and helpe But she as fearefull as louing still concealed it and so decaying still more more in the excellencie of her fairenesse but that whatsoeuer weakenesse tooke away pitie seemed to adde yet still she forced her selfe to waite on me with such care and diligence as might well shew had bene taught in no other schoole but Loue. While we returning againe to embarke our selues for Greece vnderstood that the mighty Otanes brother to Barzanes slaine by Musidorus in the battaile of the six Princes had entred vpon the kingdome of Pontus partly vpon the pretences he had to the crowne but principally
because he would reuenge vpon him whom he knew we loued the losse of his brother thincking as indeede he had cause that wheresoeuer we were hearing of his extremitie we would come to relieue him in spite whereof he doubted not to preuaile not onely vpon the confidence of his owne vertue and power but especially because he had in his company two mighty Giants sonnes to a couple whom we slue in the same realme they hauing bene absent at their fathers death and now returned willingly entered into his seruice hating more then he both vs and that King of Pontus We therfore with all speede went thetherward but by the way this fell out which whensoeuer I remember without sorrow I must forget withall all humanitie Poore Daiphantus fell extreme sick yet would needs conquere the delicacie of her constitution and force her selfe to waite on me till one day going towarde Pontus we met one who in great hast went seeking for Tydeus and Telenor whose death as yet was not knowne vnto the messenger who being their seruaunt and knowing how deerely they loued Plexirtus brought them word how since their departing Plexirtus was in present daunger of a cruell death if by the valiantnesse of one of the best Knightes of the world he were not reskewed we enquired no further of the matter being glad he should now to his losse finde what an vnprofitable treason it had bene vnto him to dismember himselfe of two such friends and so let the messenger part not sticking to make him know his masters destruction by the falshood of Plexirtus But the griefe of that finding a bodie alreadie brought to the last degree of weakenesse so ouerwhelmed the little remnant of the spirits left in Daiphantus that she fell sodainely into deadly soundings neuer comming to her selfe but that withall she returned to make most pittifull lamentations most straunge vnto vs because we were farre from ghessing the ground thereof But finding her sicknesse such as began to print death in her eyes we made all hast possible to conuey her to the next towne but before we could lay her on a bed both we and she might find in herselfe that the harbingers of ouer-hastie death had prepared his lodging in that daintie body which she vndoubtedly feeling with a weake chearefulnes shewed comfort therein and then desiring vs both to come neere her and that no bodie els might be present with pale and yet euen in palenes louely lips Now or neuer and neuer indeed but now is it time for me said she to speake and I thanke death which giues me leaue to discouer that the suppressing whereof perchance hath bene the sharpest spur that hath hasted my race to this end Know then my Lords and especially you my Lord and master Pyrocles that your page Daiphantus is the vnfortunat Zelmane who for your sake caused my as vnfortunate louer and cosen Palladius to leaue his fathers court and consequētly both him and my Aunt his mother to loose their liues For your sake my selfe haue become of a Princesse a Page and for your sake haue put off the apparell of a woman and if you iudge not more mercifully the modestie We were amazed at her speach and then had as it were new eies giuē vs to perceiue that which before had bene a present strāger to our minds For indeed we forthwith knew it to be the face of Zelmane whō before we had knowen in the court of Iberia And sorrow pittie laying her paine vpon me I comforted her the best I could by the tendernes of good-will pretending indeed better hope then I had of her recouery But she that had inward ambassadors from the tyrant that shortly would oppresse her No my deere master said she I neither hope nor desire to liue I know you would neuer haue loued me and with that word she wept nor alas had it bene reason you should considering manie wayes my vnworthines It sufficeth me that the strange course I haue taken shall to your remembrance witnesse my loue and yet this breaking of my hart before I would discouer my paine will make you I hope thinke that I was not altogether vnmodest Thinke of me so deare Master and that thought shall be my life and with that languishingly looking vpon me And I pray you said she euen by these dying eies of mine which are onely sorrie to dye because they shall lose your sight and by these pouled lockes of mine which while they were long were the ornament of my sex now in their short curles the testimonie of my seruitude and by the seruice I haue done you which God knowes hath beene full of loue thinke of me after my death with kindnes though ye cannot with loue And whensoeuer ye shall make any other Ladie happie with your well placed affection if you tell her my folly I pray you speake of it not with scorne but with pittie I assure you deare Princesse of my life for how could it be otherwise her words and her manner with the liuely consideration of her loue so pearced me that though I had diuerse griefes before yet me thought I neuer felt till then how much sorow enfeebleth all resolution For I could not chuse but yeeld to the weakenes of abundant weeping in trueth with such griefe that I could willingly at that time haue chaunged liues with her But when she saw my teares O God said she how largely am I recompenced for my losses why then said shee I may take boldnesse to make some requests vnto you I besought her to doo vowing the performance though my life were the price thereof She shewed great ioy The first said she is this that you will pardon my father the displeasure you haue iustly conceiued against him and for this once succour him out of the daunger wherein he is I hope he will amend and I pray you whensoeuer you remember him to be the faultie Plexirtus remember withall that he is Zelmanes father The second is that when you come once into Greece you will take vnto your selfe this name though vnlucky of Daiphantus and vouchsafe to be called by it for so shall I be sure you shall haue cause to remember me and let it please your noble cousin to be called Palladius that I doo that right to that poore Prince that his name yet may liue vpon the earth in so excellent a person and so betwene you I trust sometimes your vnluckie page shall be perhaps with a sigh mencioned Lastly let me be buried here obscurely not suffering my friends to know my fortune till whē you are safely returned to your own countrie you cause my bones to be conueied thither and laid I beseech you in some place where your selfe vouchsafe sometimes to resort Alas small petitiōs for such a suter which yet she so earnestly craued that I was faine to sweare the accomplishment And then kissing me and often desiring me not to condemne her of lightnesse in mine armes she
hauing made a lawe of Polygamie after many tortures forst him to throw himselfe from a high Pyramis which was built ouer Tiridates tombe and so to end his false-harted life which had planted no strong thought in him but that he could be vnkinde But Plangus well perceiuing that Artaxia staied onely for the appointed day that the faire Eronas bodie consumed to ashes should make a notorious testimonie how deepely her brothers death was engrauen in her brest he assembled good numbers of friends whom his vertue though a stranger had tied vnto him by force to giue her libertie Contrariwise Artaxia to whom Anger gaue more courage then her sexe did feare vsed her regall authoritie the most she could to suppresse that sedition and haue her will which she thought is the most princely thing that may be But Plangus who indeede as all men witnes is one of the best captaines both for policie and valour that are trained in the schoole of Mars in a conflict ouerthrew Artaxias power though of far greater number and there toke prisoner a base sonne of her brothers whom she deerly affected and then sent her word that he should run the same race of fortune whatsoeuer it was that Erona did and happy was that threatning for her for els Artaxia had hastened the day of her death in respect of those tumults But now some principall noble-men of that countrie interposing themselues it was agreed that all persons els fullie pardoned and all prisoners except Erona deliuered she should be put into the hands of a principall nobleman who had a castle of great strength vpon oath that if by the day two yeare from Tiridates death Pyrocles and Musidorus did not in person combat and ouercome two knights whom she appointed to maintain her quarrell against Erona and them of hauing by treason destroyed her brother that then Erona should be that same day burned to ashes but if they came and had the victorie she should be deliuered but vpon no occasion neither freed nor executed till that day And hereto of both sides all toke solemne oath and so the peace was concluded they of Plangus partie forcing him to agree though he himselfe the sooner condiscended knowing the courtesie of those two excellent Princes not to refuse so noble a quarrell and their power such as two more like the other two were not able to resist But Artaxia was more and vpon better ground pleased with this action for she had euen newly receiued newes frō Plexirtus that vpon the sea he had caused them both to perish and therefore she held her selfe sure of the match But poore Plangus knew not so much and therefore seeing his partie as most times it falles out in like case hungry of any conditions of peace accepted them and then obteined leaue of the Lord that indifferently kept her to visite Erona whom he found full of desperate sorow not suffering neither his vnworthinesse nor his wrongs nor his death which is the naturall conclusion of all worldly acts either to couer with forgetfulnes or diminish with consideration the affection she had borne him but euen glorying in affliction and shunning all comfort she seemed to haue no delight but in making herselfe the picture of miserie So that when Plangus came to her she fell in deadlie traunces as if in him she had seene the death of Antiphilus because he had not succoured him and yet her vertue striuing she did at one time acknowledge her selfe bound and professe her selfe iniured in steede of allowing the conclusion they had made or writing to the Princes as he wisht her to doo crauing nothing but some speedie death to follow her in spite of iust hate beloued Antiphilus So that Plangus hauing nothing but a rauisht kisse from her hand at their parting went away toward Greece whetherward he vnderstoode the Princes were embarked But by the way it was his fortune to intercept letters written by Artaxia to Plexirtus wherein she signified her accepting him to her husband whom she had euer fauoured so much the rather as he had perfourmed the conditions of her mariage in bringing to their deserued end her greatest enemies withall thanking the sea in such tearmes as he might well perceiue it was by some treason wrought in Plexirtus shippe Whereupon to make more diligent search he tooke shippe himselfe and came into Laconia enquiring and by his enquirie finding that such a shippe was indeede with fight and fire perished none almost escaping But for Pyrocles and Musidorus it was assuredly determined that they were cast away for the name of such Princes especially in Greece would quickly els haue bene a large witnesse to the contrarie Full of griefe with that for the losse of such who left the world poore of perfection but more sorie for Eronas sake who now by them could not be relieued A new aduertisement from Armenia ouertooke him which multiplied the force of his anguish It was a message from the Noble-man who had Erona in ward giuing him to vnderstand that since his departure Artaxia vsing the benefite of time had besieged him in his castell demaunding present deliuery of her whom yet for his faith giuen he would not before the day appointed if possibly he could resist which he foresaw long he should not do for want of victuall which he had not so wisely prouided because he trusted vpon the generall oth taken for two yeares space and therefore willed him to make hast to his succour and come with no small forces for all they that were of his side in Armenia were consumed and Artaxia had encreased her might by mariage of Plexirtus who now crowned King there stickt not to glory in the murder of Pyrocles and Musidorus as hauing iust cause thereto in respect of the deaths of his sister Andromana her sonne his nephew and his owne daughter Zelmane all whose losse he vniustly charged them withall and now openly stickt not to confesse what a reuenge his wit had brought forth Plangus much astonished herewith bethought himselfe what to doo For to returne to Armenia was vaine since his friends there were vtterly ouerthrowne Then thought he of going to his father but he had already euen since the death of his stepmother and brother attempted the recouering his fauour and all in vaine For they that had before ioined with Andromana to do him the wrong thought now no life for them if he returned and therefore kept him still with new forged suspicions odious to his father So that Plangus reseruing that for a worke of longer time then the sauing of Erona could beare determined to goe to the mighty and good King Euarchus who lately hauing to his eternall fame fully not onely conquered his enemies but established good gouernment in their countries he hoped he might haue present succour of him both for the iustnes of the cause reuenge of his childrens death by so hainous a treason murthered Therefore with diligence he went to him by
feele the comfort of the morning Turnde to the mortall serene of an euening Klaius Me seemes I see a filthy clowdie euening As soone as Sunne begins to clime the mountaines Me seemes I feele a noysome sent the morning When I doo smell the flowers of these vallies Me seemes I heare when I doo heare sweete musique The dreadfull cries of murdred men in forrests Strephon. I wish to fire the trees of all these forrests I giue the Sunne a last farewell each euening I curse the fidling finders out of musicke With enuie I doo hate the loftie mountaines And with dispite despise the humble vallies I doo detest night euening day and morning Klaius Curse to my selfe my praier is the morning My fire is more then can be made with forrests My state more base then are the basest vallies I wish no euenings more to see each euening Shamed I hate my selfe in sight of mountaines And stoppe mine eares lest I grow mad with musicke Strephon. For she whose parts maintainde a perfect musique Whose beautie shin'de more then the blushing morning Who much did passe in state the stately mountaines In streightnes past the Cedars of the forrests Hath cast me wretch into eternall euening By taking her two Sunnes from these darke vallies Klaius For she to whom compar'd the Alpes are vallies She whose lest word brings from the spheares their musique At whose approche the Sunne rose in the euening Who where she went bare in her forhead morning Is gone is gone from these our spoyled forrests Turning to desarts our best pastur'de mountaines Strephon. These mountaines witnesse shall so shall these vallies These forrests eke made wretched by our musique Klaius Our morning hymne is this and song at euening But as though all this had bene but the taking of a taste of their wailings Strephon againe begā this Dizaine which was answered vnto him in that kind of verse which is called the crowne Strephon. Klaius Strephon. I Ioy in griefe and doo detest all ioyes Despise delight am tyr'd with thought of ease I turne my minde to all formes of annoyes And with the chaunge of them my fancie please I studie that which may me most displease And in despite of that displeasures might Embrace that most that most my soule destroyes Blinded with beames fell darkenes is my sight Dwell in my ruines feede with sucking smarte I thinke from me not from my woes to parte Klaius I thinke from me not from my woes to parte And loth this time call'd life nay thinke that life Nature to me for torment did emparte Thinke my harde haps haue blunted deaths sharpe knife Not sparing me in whom his workes be rife And thinking this thinke nature life and death Place Sorrowes triumph on my conquerd harte Whereto I yeeld and seeke none other breath But from the sent of some infectious graue Nor of my fortune ought but mischieue craue Strephon. Nor of my fortune ought but mischieue craue And seeke to nourish that which now containes All what I am if I my selfe will saue Then must I saue what in me chiefely raignes Which is the hatefull web of sorrowes paines Sorrow then cherish me for I am sorrow No being now but sorrowe I can haue Then decke me as thine owne thy helpe I borrowe Since thou my riches art and that thou haste Enough to make a fertill minde lie waste Klaius Enough to make a fertill minde lie waste Is that huge storme which powres it selfe on me Hailestones of teares of sighes a monstrous blast Thunders of cries lightnings my wilde lookes be The darkned heau'n my soule which nought can see The flying sprites which trees by rootes vp teare Be those despaires which haue my hopes quite wast The difference is all folkes those stormes forbeare◠But I cannot who then my selfe should flie So close vnto my selfe my wrackes doo lie Strephon. So close vnto my selfe my wrackes doo lie Both cause effect beginning and the ende Are all in me what helpe then can I trie My ship my selfe whose course to loue doth bende Sore beaten doth her mast of comfort spend Her cable Reason breakes from anchor Hope Fancie her tackling torne away doth flie Ruine the winde hath blowne her from her scope Brused with waues of Cares but broken is On rocke Despaire the buriall of my blisse Klaius On rocke Despaire the buriall of my blisse I long do◠plowe with plough of deepe desire The seed Fast meaning is no truth to misse I harow it with Thoughts which all conspire Fauour to make my chiefe and onely hire But woe is me the yeare is gone about And now I faine would reape I reape but this Hatefully growne Absence new sprongen out So that I see although my sight empaire Vaine is their paine who labour in despaire Strephon. Vaine is their paine who labour in despaire For so did I when with my angle Will I sought to catch the fish Torpedo faire Eu'n then Despaire did Hope already kill◠Yet fancie would perforce employ his skill And this hath got the catcher now is caught Lamde with the angle which it selfe did beare And vnto death quite drownde in dolours brough◠To death as then disguisd in her faire face Thus Thus alas I had my losse in chase Klaius Thus Thus alas I had my losse in chase When first that crowned Basiliske I knewe Wose footesteps I with kisses oft did trace Till by such hap as I must euer rue Mine eyes did light vpon her shining hue And hers on me astonisht with that sight Since then my hart did loose his wonted place Infected so with her sweet poysons might That leauing me for dead to her it went But ah her flight hath my dead reliques spent Strephon. But ah her flight hath my dead reliques spent Her flight from me from me though dead to me Yet liuing still in her while her beames lent Such vitall sparke that her mine eyes might see But now those liuing lights absented be Full dead before I now to dust shall fall But that eternall paines my soule haue hent And keepe it still within this body thrall That thus I must while in this death I dwell In earthly fetters feele a lasting hell Klaius In earthly fetters feele a lasting hell Alas I doo from which to finde release I would the earth I would the heauens sell. But vaine it is to thinke these paines should cease Where life is death and death cannot breed peace O faire ô onely faire from thee alas These foule most foule desastres to me fell Since thou from me o me ô Sunne didst passe Therefore esteeming all good blessings toyes I ioy in griefe and doo detest all ioyes Strephon. I ioy in griefe and doo detest all ioyes But now an ende O Claius now an ende For euen the hearbes our hatefull musique stroyes And from our burning breath the trees do bende So well were these wailefull complaints accorded to the passions of all the princely hearers while euery one
the discord of the nobilitie and when other cause fayled him the nature of chaunce serued as a cause vnto him and sometimes the hearing other men speake valiantly and the quietnesse of his vnassailed senses woulde make himselfe beleue that hee durst doo something But now that present daunger did display it selfe vnto his eye and that a daungerous dooing must be the onely meane to preuent the danger of suffering one that had marked him woulde haue iudged that his eies would haue run into him and his soule out of him so vnkindly did either take a sent of daunger He thought the lake was too shallow and the walles too thin he misdouted ech mans treason and coniectured euery possibilitie of misfortune not onely fore-casting likely perils but such as all the planets together coulde scarcely haue conspired and already began to arme him selfe though it was determined he should tarrie within doores and while he armed himselfe imagined in what part of the vault he would hide himselfe if the enimies wonne the castle Desirous he was that euery body should do valiantly but himselfe and therefore was afraid to shew his feare but for very feare would haue hid his feare lest it shoulde discomfort others but the more he sought to disguize it the more the vnsutablenes of a weake broken voice to high braue wordes and of a pale shaking countenance to a gesture of animating did discouer him But quite contrarily Amphialus who before the enimies came was carefull prouidently diligent not somtimes with out doubting of the issue now the nearer danger approched like the light of a glow-worme the lesse still it seemed and now his courage began to boile in choler and with such impatience to desire to powre out both vpon the enimie that he issued presently into certaine boates he had of purpose and carying with him some choise men went to the fortresse he had vpon the edge of the lake which hee thought would bee the first thing that the enimy woulde attempt because it was a passage which commanding all that side of the country and being lost would stop victuall or other supply that might be brought into the castle in that fortresse hauing some force of horsemen he issued out with two hundred horse fiue hundred footmen embushed his footmen in the falling of a hill which was ouer shadowed with a wood he with his horsmen went a quarter of a mile further aside hand of which he might perceaue the many troupes of the enimie who came but to take view where best to encampe themselues But as if the sight of the enimie had bene a Magnes stone to his courage he could not containe himselfe but shewing his face to the enimie and his backe to his souldiers vsed that action as his onely oration both of denouncing warre to the one and perswading help of the other Who faithfully following an example of such authoritie they made the earth to grone vnder their furious burden and the enimies to begin to be angry with them whom in particular they knew not Among whom there was a young man youngest brother to Philanax whose face as yet did notbewray his sex with so much as shew of haire of a minde hauing no limits of hope nor knowing why to feare full of iollitie in conuersation and lately growne a Louer His name was Agenor of all that armie the most beautifull who hauing ridden in sportfull conuersation among the foremost all armed sauing that his beauer was vp to haue his breath in more freedome seing Amphialus come a pretty way before his cōpany neither staying the commaundement of the captaine nor recking whether his face were armed or no set spurs to his horse and with youthfull brauerie casting his staffe about his head put it then in his rest as carefull of comely carying it as if the marke had beene but a ring and the lookers on Ladies But Amphialus launce was already come to the last of his descending line and began to make the ful point of death against the head of this young Gentleman when Amphialus perceyuing his youth and beautie Compassion so rebated the edge of Choller that hee spared that faire nakednesse and let his staffe fal to Agenors vampalt so as both with braue breaking should hurtleslie haue perfourmed that match but that the pittilesse launce of Amphialus angry with being broken with an vnlucky counterbuffe ful of vnsparing splinters lighted vpon that face farre fitter for the combats of Venus geuing not onely a suddaine but a fowle death leauing scarsely any tokens of his former beautie but his hands abandoning the reynes and his thighes the saddle hee fell sidewarde from the horse Which sight comming to Leontius a deere friende of his who in vaine had lamentably cried vnto him to stay when he saw him beginne his careere it was harde to say whether pittie of the one or reuenge against the other helde as then the soueraigntie in his passions But while hee directed his eye to his friende and his hinde to his enimie so worngly-consorted a power coulde not resist the ready minded force of Amphialus who perceyuing his il-directed direction against him so paide him his debt before it was lent that hee also fell to the earth onely happy that one place and one time did finish both their Loues and liues together But by this time there had bene a furious meeting of either side where after the terrible salutation of warlike noyse the shaking of handes was with sharpe weapons some launces according to the mettall they mett and skill of the guider did staine themselues in bloud some flew vp in pieces as if they would threaten heauen because they fayled on earth◠But their office was quickly inherited either by the Prince of weapons the sworde or by some heauy mase or biting axe which hunting still the weakest chase sought euer to light there wher smallest resistance might worse preuent mischiefe The clashing of armour and crushing of staues the iustling of bodies the resounding of blowes was the first parte of that ill-agreeing musicke which was beautified with the griselinesse of woundes the rising of dust the hideous falles and grones of the dying The very horses angrie in their masters anger with loue and obedience brought foorth the effects of hate and resistance and with minds of seruitude did as if they affected glorie Some lay deade vnder their dead maisters whome vnknightly wounds had vniustly punished for a faithfull dutie Some lay vppon their Lordes by like accidents and in death had the honour to be borne by them whom in life they had borne Some hauing lost their commaunding burthens ranne scattered about the fielde abashed with the madnesse of mankinde The earth it selfe woont to be a buriall of men was nowe as it were buried with men so was the face thereof hidden with deade bodies to whom Death hade come masked in diuerse manners In one place lay disinherited heades dispossessed of their naturall seignories in an
him through And the boy fearce though beautifull beautifull though dying not able to keepe his failinge feete fell downe to the earth which he bit for anger repining at his Fortune and as long as he could resisting Death which might seeme vnwilling to so long he was in taking away his yong struggling soule Philanax himselfe could haue wished the blow vngiuen when hee saw him fall like a faire apple which some vncourteous bodie breaking his bowe should throw downe before it were ripe But the case of his brother made him forget both that and himselfe so as ouerhastily pressing vpon the retiring enemies hee was ere hee was aware further engaged then his owne souldiers could relieue him where being ouerthrowne by Amphialus Amphialus glad of him kept head aginst his enemies while some of his men caried away Philanax But Philanax-his men as if with the losse of Philanax they had lost the fountaine of their valure had their courages so dried vp in feare that they began to set honour at their backs and to vse the vertue of pacience in an vntimely time when into the presse comes as hard as his horse more afraied of the spurre then the sworde coulde carie him a Knight in armor as darke as blacknes coulde make it followed by none and adorned by nothing so far without authoritie that hee was without knowledge But vertue quickly made him knowne and admiration bred him such authoritie that though they of whose side he came knew him not yet they all knew it was fitte to obey him and while he was followed by the valiantest hee made way for the vilest For taking part with the besiegers he made the Amphialians bloud serue for a caparison to his horse and a decking to his armour His arme no oftner gaue blowes then the blowes gaue wounds then the wounds gaue deathes so terrible was his force and yet was his quicknes more forcible then his force and his iudgement more quick then his quicknes For though his sword went faster then eyesight could follow it yet his owne iudgement went still before it There died of his hand Sarpedon Plistonax Strophilus and Hippolitus men of great proofe in warres and who had that day vndertaken the guard of Amphialus But while they sought to saue him they lost the fortresses that Nature had placed them in Then slew he Megalus who was a little before proude to see himselfe stained in the bloud of his enemies but when his owne bloud came to be married to theirs he then felt that Crueltie dooth neuer enioy a good cheape glorie After him sent he Palemon who had that daye vowed with foolish brauerie to be the death of tenne and nine already he had killed and was careful to performe his almost performed vowe when the Blacke Knight helpt him to make vp the tenth himselfe And now the often-changing Fortune began also to chaunge the hewe of the battailes For at the first though it were terrible yet Terror was deckt so brauelie with rich furniture guilt swords shining armours pleasant pensils that the eye with delight had scarce leasure to be afraide But now all vniuersally defiled with dust bloud broken armours mangled bodies tooke away the maske and sette foorth Horror in his owne horrible manner But neither could danger be dreadfull to Amphialus his vndismayable courage nor yet seeme oâ—gly to him whose truely-affected minde did still paint it ouer with the beautie of Philoclea And therefore he rather enflamed then troubled with the encrease of dangers and glad to finde a woorthie subiect to exercise his courage sought out this newe Knight whom he might easilie finde for he like a wanton rich man that throwes downe his neighbours houses to make himselfe the better prospecte so had his sworde made him so spatious a roome that Amphialus had more cause to wonder at the finding then labour for the seeking which if it stirred hate in him to see how much harme he did to the one side it prouoked as much emulation in him to perceaue how much good he did to the other side Therefore they approaching one to the other as in two beautifull folkes Loue naturally stirres a desire of ioyning so in their two courages Hate stirred a desire of triall Then began there a combatte betweene them worthy to haue had more large listes and more quiet beholders for with the spurre of Courage and the bitte of Respect each so guided himselfe that one might well see the desire to ouercome made them not forget how to ouercome in such time and proportion they did employ their blowes that none of Ceres seruaunts could more cunningly place his flaile while the left foote spurre set forward his owne horse the right set backward the contrarie horse euen sometimes by the aduauntage of the enemies legge while the left hande like him that helde the sterne guyded the horses obedient courage All done in such order that it might seeme the minde was a right Prince indeede who sent wise and diligent Lieutenants into each of those well gouerned partes But the more they fought the more they desired to fight and the more they smarted the lesse they felte the smarte and now were like to make a quicke proofe to whome Fortune or Valour would seeme most friendly when in comes an olde Gouernour of Amphialus alwayes a good Knight and carefull of his charge who giuing a sore wound to the blacke Knights thigh while he thought not of him with an other blowe slewe his horse vnder him Amphialus cried to him that he dishonoured him You say well answered the olde Knight to stand now like a priuate souldier setting your credite vpon particular fighting while you may see Basilius with all his hoste is getting betweene you and your towne He looked that way and found that true indeede that the enemie was beginning to encompasse him about and stoppe his returne and therefore causing the retreite to be sounded his Gouernour ledde his men homeward while hee kept himselfe still hindmost as if hee had stoode at the gate of a sluse to let the streame goe with such proportion as should seeme good vnto him and with so manfull discretion perfourmed it that though with losse of many of his men he returned in him selfe safe and content that his enemies had felte how sharpe the sworde could bite of Philocleas Louer The other partie being sorie for the losse of Philanax was yet sorrier when the blacke Knight could not be found For he hauing gotten a horse whom his dying master had bequeathed to the world finding him selfe sore hurt and not desirous to be knowen had in the time of the enemies retiring retired away also his thigh not bleeding bloud so fast as his harte bledde reuenge But Basilius hauing attempted in vaine to barre the safe returne of Amphialus encamped himselfe as strongly as he could while he to his griefe might heare the ioy was made in the towne by his owne subiects that he had that
Gyantes haue falne dead when I onely sought causelesse aduentures and can one Knight now withstand me in the presence of Philoclea and fighting for Philoclea or since I lost my liberty haue I lost my courag haue I gottē the hart of a slaue as wel as the fortūe If an armie were against me in the sight of Philoclea could it resist me O beast on man resists thee thy riual resists thee or am I indeed Amphialus haue not passions kild him and wretched I I know not how succeeded into his place Of the other side the forsaken Knight with no lesse spite fell out with himselfe Hast thou broken saide hee to himselfe the commandement of thy onely Princesse to come now into her presence and in her presence to proue thy selfe a coward Doth Asia and AEgypt set vp Trophes vnto thee to be matched here by a traytor O noble Barsanes how shamed will thy soule be that he that slew thee should be resisted by this one man O incomparable Pyrocles more grieued wilt thou be with thy friends shame then with thine own imprisonment when thou shalt know how little I haue bene able to doo for the deliuerie of thee and those heauenly Princesses Am I worthie to be friend to the most valourous Prince that euer was entituled valorous and shew my selfe so weake a wretch No shamed Musidorus worthie for nothing but to keepe sheepe get thee a sheephooke againe since thou canst vse a sworde no better So was the forsaken Knight layed vpon clokes carried home to the campe But his two friends knowing his earnest desire not to be knowen couering him from any bodies eyes conueyed him to their owne tente Basilius himselfe conquering his earnest desire to see him with feare to displease him who had fought so notably in his quarrell But Fame set the honour vpon his backe which he would not suffer to shine in his face no mans mouth being barrein of prayses to the noble Knight that had bettered the most esteemed Knight in the worlde euery bodie praying for his life and thinking that therein they prayed for themselues But hee himselfe when by the diligent care of friends and well applied cunning of surgeons he came to renewe againe the league betweene his minde and body then fell he to a freshe warre with his owne thoughts wrongfully condemning his manhood laying cowardise to himselfe whome the impudentest backbiter would not so haue wronged For his courage vsed to vse victory as an inheritaunce coulde brooke no resistance at any time but now that hee had promised him selfe not onely the conquest of him but the scaling of the walles and deliuery of Pamela though he had done beyond all others expectation yet so short was he of his owne that hee hated to looke vpon the Sunne that had seene him doo so weakely and so much abhorred all visitation or honour whereof he thought him selfe vnworthy that hee besought his two noble friends to carrie him away to a castle not far of where he might cure his woundes and neuer bee knowne till he made successe excuse this as he thought want in him They louingly obeyed him leauing Basilius and all the campe very sorrie for the parting of these three vnknowne Knights in whose prowesse they had reposed greatest trust of victory But they being gone Basilius and Philanax gaue good order to the strengthning of the siege fortifying themselues so as they feared no more any such suddaine onset as that of Anaxius And they within by reason of Anaxius hurt but especially of Amphialus-is gaue thēselues only to diligent watch ward making no sallies out but committing the principall trust to Zoilus and Lycurgus For Anaxius was yet forced to keepe his chamber And as for Amphialus his body had such wounds and he gaue such wounds to his minde as easily it coulde not bee determined whether death or he made the greater haste one to the other for when the diligent care of cūning surgeons had brought life to the possession of his owne right Sorrowe and Shame like two corrupted seruaunts came waiting of it perswading nothing but the giuing ouer of itselfe to destruction They laide before his eyes his present case painting euery piece of it in moste ougly colours they shewed him his loue wrapped in dispaire his fame blotted by ouerthrow so that if before he languished because he could not obtaine his desiring hee now lamented because he durst not desire the obtaining Recreant Amphialus would hee say to him selfe how darest thou intitle thy selfe the louer of Philoclea that hast neither shewed thy selfe a faithfull coward nor a valiant rebell but both rebellious and cowardly which no lawe can quite nor grace haue pittie of Alas life what little pleasure thou doost me to giue me nothing but sense of reproach and exercise of ruine I would sweete Philoclea I had died before thy eyes had seene my weakenes then perchaunce with some sigh thou wouldest haue confessed thou hadst lost a worthy seruant But nowe caitife that I am what euer I haue donne serues but to builde vp my riuals glory To these speeches he would couple such gestures of vexation and would fortifie the gestures with such effects of furie as sometimes offring to teare vp his wounds sometimes to refuse the sustenance of meat and counsell of phisitions that his perplexed mother was driuen to make him by force to be tended with extreame corsey to her selfe and annoiance to him till in the ende he was contented to promise her he would attempt no violence vpon himselfe vpon condition he might be troubled by no body but onely his Phisitions his melancholy detesting all company so as not the very surgeons nor seruants durst speake vnto him in doing him seruice only he had praied his mother as she tendered his life she would procure him grace and that without that she would neuer come at him more His mother who had confined all her loue only vnto him set only such about him as were absolutely at her commandement whome she forbad to let him knowe any thing that passed in the castle till his woundes were cured but as she from time to time should instruct them she for her selfe being resolued nowe she had the gouernment of all things in her owne handes to satisfie her sonnes loue by their yeelding or satisfie her owne reuenge in their punishment Yet first because she would be the freer from outward force she sent a messenger to the campe to denounce vnto Basilius that if he did not presently raise his siege she would cause the heads of the three Ladies prisoners to be cut off before his eyes And to make him the more feare a present performance she caused his two daughters and Zelmane to be led vnto the walls where she had made a scaffold easie to be seene by Basilius and there caused them to be kept as ready for the slaughter till answere came from Basilius A sight full of pittie it was to see those three
sake one death may be thought inough for me I haue not liued so many yeares but that one death may be able to conclude them neither haue my faults I hope bene so many but that one death may satisfie them It is no great suite to an enemie when but death is desired I craue but that and as for the graunting your request know for certaine you lose your labours being euery day furtherof-minded from becomming his wife who vseth me like a slaue But that in stead of getting grace renued againe Cecropias fury so that excellent creature she was newly againe tormented by those hellish monsters Cecropia vsing no other words but that she was a proud and vngratefull wench and that she would teach her to know her owne good since of her selfe she would not conceaue it So that with silence and patience like a faire gorgeous armour hammered vppon by an ilfauoured Smith she abode their pittiles dealing with her till rather reseruing her for more then meaning to end they left her to an vncomfortable leysure to consider with her selfe her fortune both helplesse her selfe being a prisoner and hopelesse since Zelmane was a prisoner who therein onely was short of the bottome of miserie that she knew not how vnworthilie her Angell by these deuils was abused but wanted God wot no stings of griefe when those words did but strike vpon her hart that Philoclea was a captiue and she not able to succour her For well she knew the confidence Philoclea had in her and well she knew Philoclea had cause to haue confidence and all troden vnder foot by the wheele of senselesse Fortune Yet if there be that imperious power in the soule as it can deliuer knowledge to another without bodilie organs so vehement were the workings of their spirites as one mette with other though themselues perceaued it not but onely thought it to be the doubling of their owne louing fancies And that was the onely worldly thing whereon Philoclea rested her minde that she knewe she should die beloued of Zelmane and should die rather then be false to Zelmane And so this most daintie Nimphe easing the paine of her minde with thinking of anothers paine and almost forgetting the paine of her bodie through the paine of her minde she wasted euen longing for the conclusion of her tedious tragedie But for a while she was vnuisited Cecropia employing her time in vsing the like crueltie vpon Pamela her harte growing not onely to desire the fruite of punishing them but euen to delight in the punishing them But if euer the beames of perfection shined through the clowdes of affliction if euer Vertue tooke a bodie to shewe his els vnconceaueable beautie it was in Pamela For when Reason taught her there was no resistance for to iust resistance first her harte was enclined then with so heauenly a quietnes and so gracefull a calmenes did she suffer the diuers kindes of torments they vsed to her that while they vexed her faire bodie it seemed that she rather directed then obeyed the vexation And when Cecropia ended and asked whether her harte woulde yeelde she a little smiled but such a smiling as shewed no loue and yet could not but be louelie And then Beastlie woman sayde shee followe on doo what thou wilte and canst vpon me for I know thy power is not vnlimited Thou maist well wracke this sillie bodie but me thou canst neuer ouerthrowe For my part I will not doo theâ— the pleasure to desire death of thee but assure thy selfe both my life and death shall triumph with honour laying shame vpon thy detestable tyranny And so in effect conquering their doing with her suffering while Cecropia tried as many sorts of paines as might rather vexe them then spoyle them for that she would not do while she were in any hope to winne either of them for her sonne Pamela remained almost as much content with triall in her selfe what vertue could doo as grieued with the miserie wherein she found her selfe plunged only sometimes her thoughts softned in her when with open wings they flew to Musidorus For then she would thinke with her selfe how grieuously Musidorus would take this her miserie and she that wept not for herselfe wept yet Musidorus teares which he would weepe for her For gentle Loue did easlier yeeld to lamentation then the constancy of vertue would els admitte Then would she remember the case wherein she had left her poore shepheard and she that wished death for her selfe feared death for him and she that condemned in her selfe the feeblenes of sorrow yet thought it great reason to be sory for his sorow and she that long had prayed for the vertuous ioyning themselues together now thinking to die herselfe hartely prayed that long time their fortunes might be seperated Liue long my Musidorus would she say and let my name liue in thy mouth in thy harte my memorie Liue long that thou mayst loue long the chast loue of thy dead Pamela Then would she wish to her selfe that no other woman might euer possesse his hart and yet scarcely the wish was made a wish when her selfe would finde fault with it as being too vniust that so excellent a man should be banished from the comfort of life Then would she fortifie her resolution with bethinking the worst taking the counsell of vertue and comfort of loue So these diamonds of the world whom Nature had made to be preciously set in the eyes of men to be the chiefe workes of her workemanship the chiefe ornaments of the worlde and Princesses of felicitie by rebellious iniury were brought to the vttermost distres that an enemies hart could wish or a womans spite inuent Cecropia dayly in one or other sorte punishing them still with her euill torments giuing them feare of worse making the feare it selfe the sorest torment of all that in the ende wearie of their bodies they should be content to bestow them at her appointment But as in labour the more one doth exercise it the more by the doing one is enhabled to doo strength growing vpon the worke so as what at first would haue seemed impossible after growes easie so these Princesses second to none and far from any second only to be matched by themselues with the vse of suffering their minds gat the habit of suffring so as all feares and terrors were to them but summons to a battaile whereof they knew before hand they would be victorious and which in the suffering was painfull being suffered was a trophe to it selfe whereby Cecropia found her selfe still farder off for where at first she might perchance haue perswaded them to haue visited her sonne and haue giuen him some comforte in his sicknesse drawing neere to the confines of Deaths kingdome now they protested that they would neuer otherwise speake to him then as to the enemy of most vniust cruelty towards them that any time or place could euer make them knowe This made the poison swell in her
better perswaded when no body was by that had heard her say she would not bee perswaded then began first the eyes to speake and the harts to crie out Sorrow a while would nedees speake his owne language without vsing their tongues to be his interpreters At last Zelmane brake silence but spake with the onely eloquence of amazement for all her long methodized oratione was inherited onely by such kinde of speeches Deare Ladie in extreame necessities we must not But alas vnfortunate wretch that I am that I liue to see this daye And I take heauen and earth to witnesse that nothing and with that her brest swelled so with spite and griefe that her breath had not leasure to turne it selfe into words But the sweet Philoclea that had alredie dyed in Pamela of the other side had the heauines of her hart something quickned in the most beloued sight of Zelmane ghessed somewhat at Zelmanes mind and therefore spake vnto her in this sort My Pyrocles saide shee I knowe this exceeding comfort of your presence is not brought vnto mee for any good-will that is owned vnto mee but as I suppose to make you perswade me to saue my life with the ransome of mine honour although no bodie shoulde bee so vnfit a pleader in that cause as your selfe yet perchance you woulde haue me liue Your honour God forbid saide Zelmane that euer for any cause I should yeeld to any touch of it But a while to pretend some affection til time or my libertie might worke somthing for your seruice this if my astonished senses would giue me leaue I would faine haue perswaded you To what purpose my Pyrocles said Philoclea of a miserable time what gaine is there hath Pamelaes example wrought no more in mee is a captiue life so much worth can euer it goe out of these lips that I loue any other but Pyrocles shall my tongue bee so false a traitor to my hart as to say I loue any other but Pyrocles And why should I do all this to liue O Pamela sister Pamela why shoulde I liue onely for thy sake Pyrocles I would liue but to thee I know too well I shall not liue and if not to thee hath thy loue so base allay my Pyrocles as to wish mee to liue sor dissimulation my Pyrocles my simplicitie is such that I haue hardly bene able to keepe a straight way what shall I doo in a crooked But in this case there is no meane of dissimulation not for the cunningest present answere is required and present performance vpon the answere Art thou so terrible ô Death No my Pyrocles and for that I doo thanke thee and in my soule thanke thee for I confesse the loue of thee is heerein my chiefest vertue Trouble mee not therefore deare Pyrocles nor double not my death by tormenting my resolution since I cannot liue with thee I will dye for thee Onely remember me deare Pyrocles and loue the remembrance of mee if I may craue so much of thee let me be thy last loue for though I be not worthy of thee who indeed art the worthiest creature liuing yet remember that my loue was a worthy loue But Pyrocles was so ouercome with sorrow which wisdome and vertue made iust in so excellent a Ladies case full of so excellent kindnes that words were ashamed to come forth knowing how weak they were to expresse his mind and her merit and therefore so stayed in a deadly silence forsaken of hope and forsaking comfort till the appointed gardians came in to see the fruits of Zelmanes labour and then Zelmane warned by their presence fell againe to perswade though scarcely her selfe could tell what but in sum desirous of delayes But Philoclea sweetly continuing constant and in the end punishing her importunity with silence Zelmane was faine to ende Yet crauing an other times conference shee obtained it and diuers others till at the last Cecropia founde it was to no purpose and therefore determined to follow her owne way Zelmane yet still desirous to win by any meanes respit euen wasted with sorrow and vncertaine whether in worse case in her presence or absence being able to doo nothing for Philocleas succour but by submitting the greatest corage of the earth to fall at the feete of Cecropia and craue stay of their sentence til the vttermost was seene what her perswasions might doo Cecropia seemed much to bee moued by her importunitie so as diuers dayes were wonne of painefull life to the excellent Philoclea while Zelmane suffred some hope to cherrish her minde especially trusting vpon the helpe of Musidorus who shee knew woulde not bee idle in this matter till one morning a noise awaked Zelmane from whose ouer-watchfull mind the tired body had stolne a little sleep streight with the first opening of her eyes Care taking his woonted place she ranne to the window which looked into the hall for that way the noise guided her and there might shee see the curtaine being left open euer since the last execution seuen or eight persons in a cluster vpon the scaffold who by and by retiring themselues nothinge was to bee seene thereupon but a basan of golde pittifully enameled with bloud and in the midst of it the head of the most beautifull Philoclea The horriblenes of the mischiefe was such as Pyrocles coulde not at first beleeue his owne senses but bent his woefull eyes to discerne it better where too well hee might see it was Philocleas selfe hauing no veile but beautie ouer the face which still appeared to be aliue so did those eyes shine euen as they were woont and they were woont more then any other and sometimes as they moued it might well make the beholder think that death therein had borowed her beautie and not they any way disgraced by death so sweet and pearsing a grace they caried with them It was not a pitie it was not an amazement it was not a sorrow which then laid hold on Pyrocles but a wilde furie of desperate agonie so that hee cried out O tyraunt heauen traytor earth blinde prouidence no iustice howe is this done how is this suffered hath this worlde a gouernment If it haue let it poure out all his mischiefes vpon mee and see whether it haue power to make mee more wrecthed then I am Did she excell for this haue I prayed for this abhominable hande that did it detestable deuill that commaunded it cursed light that beheld it and if the light be cursed what are then mine eyes that haue seene it And haue I seene Philoclea dead and doo I liue and haue I liued not to helpe her but to talke of her and stande I still talking And with that caried with the madnes of anguish not hauing a redier waye to kill himselfe hee ranne as hard as euer hee coulde with his head against the wall with intention to braine himselfe but the haste to do it made the doing the slower For as hee came to
subiect to ende onely your Philoclea because she is yours should be exempted But indeede you bemone your selfe who haue lost a friende you cannot her who hath in one act both preserued her honour and leste the miseries of this worlde O womans philosophie childish follie said Pyrocles as though if I do bemone my selfe I haue not reason to doo so hauing lost more then any Monarchie nay then my life can be woorth vnto me Alas saide shee comforte your selfe Nature did not forget her skill when she had made them you shall find many their superiours and perchaunce such as when your eyes shall looke abroad your selfe will like better But that the speech put al good manners out of the conceit of Pyrocles in so much that leaping out of his bed he ran to haue striken her but comming neere her the morning then winning the field of darkenesse he saw or hee thought hee sawe indeed the very face of Philoclea the same sweetenesse the same grace the same beautie with which carried into a diuine astonishment he fell downe at her feete Most blessed Angell said he well haste thou done to take that shape since thou wouldest submit thy selfe to mortall sense for a more Angelicall forme coulde not haue bene created for thee Alas euen by that excellent beautie so beloued of me let it be lawfull for me to aske of thee what is the cause that shee that heauenly creature whose forme you haue taken shoulde by the heauens bee destined to so vnripe an ende Why should vniustice so preuaile Why was she seene to the world so soone to be rauished from vs Why was shee not suffered to liue to teach the worlde perfection Doo not deceiue thy selfe answered shee I am no Angell I am Philoclea the same Philoclea so truely louing you so truely beloued of you If it be so said he that you are indeede the soule of Philoclea you haue done well to keepe your owne figure for no heauen could haue giuen you a better Then alas why haue you taken the paines to leaue your blisfull seat to come to this place most wretched to mee who am wretchednes it selfe not rather obtaine for me that I might come where you are there eternally to behold and eternally to loue your beauties you knowe I know that I desire nothing but death which I onely stay to bee iustly reuenged of your vniust murtherers Deare Pyrocles said shee I am thy Philoclea and as yet liuing not murdred as you supposed and therefore bee comforted And with that gaue him her hand But the sweet touch of that hand seemed to his astraied powers so heauenly a thing that it rather for a while confirmed him in his former beliefe till she with vehement protestations and desire that it might be so helping to perswade that it was so brought him to yeeld yet doubtfully to yeelde to this height of all comfort that Philoclea liued which witnessing with teares of ioy Alas saide he how shall I beleeue mine eies any more or doo you yet but appeare thus vnto me to stay me from some desperate end For alas I sawe the excellent Pamela beheaded I sawe your head the head indeede and chiefe parte of all natures workes standing in a dishe of golde too meane a shrine God wote for such a relike How can this be my onely deare and you liue or if this be not so how can I beleeue mine owne senses and if I can not beleeue them why should I now beleeue these blessed tidings they bring me The truth is said she my Pyrocles that neither I as you finde nor yet my deare sister is dead although the mischieuously suttle Cecropia vsed slights to make either of vs thinke so of other For hauing in vaine attempted the fardest of her wicked eloquence to make eyther of vs yeeld to her sonne and seeing that neither it accompanied with great flatteries and riche presents could get any ground of vs nor yet the violent way she fell into of cruelly tormenting our bodies could preuayle with vs at last she made either of vs thinke the other dead and so hoped to haue wrested our mindes to the forgetting of vertue and first she gaue to mine eyes the miserable spectacle of my sisters as I thought death but indeede it was not my sister it was onely Artesia she who so cunningly brought vs to this misery Truly I am sory for the poore Gentlewoman though iustly she be punished for her double falshood but Artesia muffled so as you could not easily discerne her and in my sisters apparell which they had taken from her vnder colour of giuing her other did they execute And when I for thy sake especially deare Pyrocles could by no force nor feare be won they assayed the like with my sister by bringing me downe vnder the scaffolde and making me thrust my head vp through a hole they had made therein they did put about my poore necke a dishe of gold whereout they had beaten the bottome so as hauing set bloud in it you sawe how I played the parte of death God knowes euen willing to haue done it in earnest and so had they set me that I reached but on tiptoes to the grounde so as scarcely I could breathe much lesse speake And truely if they had kept me there any whit longer they had strangled me in steed of beheading me but then they tooke me away and seeking to see their issue of this practise they found my noble sister for the deare loue she vouchsafeth to beare me so grieued withall that she willed them to doo their vttermost crueltie vnto her for she vowed neuer to receiue sustenaunce of them that had bene the causers of my murther and finding both of vs euen giuen ouer not like to liue many houres longer and my sister Pamela rather worse then my selfe the strength of her harte worse bearing those indignities the good woman Cecropia with the same pittie as folkes keepe foule when they are not fatte inough for their eating made vs knowe her deceipt and let vs come one to another with what ioye you can well imagine who I know feele the like sauing that we only thought our selues reserued to miseries and therefore fitter for condoling then congratulating For my part I am fully perswaded it is but with a little respite to haue a more feeling sense of the torments she prepares for vs. True it is that one of my guardians would haue me to beleeue that this proceedes of my gentle cousin Amphialus who hauing heard some inckling that we were euill entreated had called his mother to his bedside from whence he neuer rose since his last combat and besought and charged her vpon all the loue she bare him to vse vs with all kindnesse vowing with all the imprecations he could imagine that if euer he vnderstood for his sake that I receiued further hurt then the want of my libertie hee would not liue an houre longer And the good woman sware
when she sawe him come in with a sworde drawne and a looke more terrible then the sword she streight was stricken with the guiltines of her owne conscience yet the wel known humblenes of her sonne somwhat animated her till he comming nearer her and crying to her Thou damnable creature onely fit to bring forth such a monster of vnhappines as I am she fearing he would haue stricken her though indeed he meant it not but only intended to kill himselfe in her presence went backe so farre till ere she were aware she ouerthrew her selfe from ouer the Leades to receaue her deathes kisse at the ground and yet was she not so happie as presentlie to dye but that she had time with hellish agonie to see her sonnes then knowen whom she had in her Countrey but so olde as not able to trauaile but had giuen her soueraigne annointments to preserue his body withall till he might be brought vnto him and that Basilius had graunted leaue either naturall kindnes preuailing ouer all the offences done or rather glad to make any passage which might leade him out of his countrie and from his daughters This discourse Lycurgus vnderstanding of Helene deliuered to his brother with her vehement desire to see the body and take her last farewell of him Anaxius though hee were fallen out with all womankind in respect of the hate he bare the sisters whom hee accounted murtherers of Amphialus yet at his brothers request graunted her leaue And she poore Lady with grieuous expectation and languishing desire caried her faint legs to the place where he lay either not breathing or in all appearance breathing nothing but death In which pittious plight when she saw him though Sorow had set before her minde the pittifullest conceit thereof that it could paint yet the present sight went beyonde all former apprehensions so that beginning to kneele by the bodie her sight ranne from her seruice rather then abide such a sight and she fell in a soune vpon him as if she could not choose but dye of his wounds But when her breath aweary to be closed vp in woe broke the prison of her faire lippes and brought memorie with his seruaunt senses to his naturall office she yet made the breath conuey these dolefull wordes with it Alas said she Amphialus what strange disasters be these that hauing sought thee so long I should be now sorie to finde thee that these eyes should looke vpon Amphialus and be grieued withall that I should haue thee in my power without glory and embrace thee without comfort How often haue I blest the meanes that might bring me neere thee Now woe worth the cause that brings me so neere thee Often alas often hast thou disdained my teares but now my deare Amphialus receiue them these eyes can serue for nothing else but to weepe for thee since thou wouldest neuer vouchsafe them thy comfort yet disdaine not them thy sorrow I would they had bene more deare vnto thee for then hadst thou liued Woe is me that thy noble harte could loue who hated thee and hate who loued thee Alas why should not my faith to thee couer my other defects who only sought to make my Crowne thy foote-stoole my selfe thy seruaunt that was all my ambition and alas thou disdainedst it to serue them by whom thy incomparable selfe were disdained Yet ô Philoclea wheresoeuer you are pardon me if I speake in the bitternes of my soule excellent may you be in all other things and excellent sure you are since he loued you your want of pittie where the fault onely was infinitenesse of desert cannot be excused I would O God I would that you had graunted his deserued suite of marrying you and that I had bene your seruing-maide to haue made my estate the foile of your felicitie so he had liued How many weary steps haue I trodden after thee while my onely complaint was that thou wert vnkinde Alas I would now thou wert to be vnkind Alas why wouldest thou not commaund my seruice in persuading Philoclea to loue thee who could or if euery one could who would haue recounted thy perfections so well as I who with such kindly passions could haue stirred pittie for thee as I who should haue deliuered not only the wordes but the teares I had of thee and so shouldest thou haue exercised thy disdaine in me and yet vsed my seruice for thee With that the body mouing somewhat and giuing a groneful of deaths musick she fell vpon his face and kist him and with all cried out O miserable I that haue onely fauour by miserie and then woulde shee haue returned to a fresh careere of complaints when an aged and wise Gentleman came to her and besought her to remember what was fit for her greatnesse wisdome and honour and with all that it was fitter to show her loue in carying the body to her excellent Surgeon first applying such excellent medicines as she had receiued of him for that purpose rather then onely shew her selfe a woman-louer in fruitles lamentations She was streight warned with the obedience of an ouerthrowen minde and therefore leauing some surgeons of her owne to dresse the body went herselfe to Anaxius and humbling her selfe to him as lowe as his owne pride could wish besought him that since the surgeons there had vtterly giuen him ouer that he would let her carie him awaye in her litter with her since the worst he could haue should bee to die and to die in her armes that loued him aboue all things and where he should haue such monuments erected ouer him as were fit for her loue and his worthines beseeching him withall since she was in a country of enemies where shee trusted more to Anaxius valour then Basilius promise that he would conuey them safely out of those territories Her reasons something moued him but nothinge thoroughly perswaded him but the last request of his helpe which he streight promised warranting all securitie as long as that sword had his master aliue She as happy therein as vnhappines coulde be hauing receiued as small comfort of her owne surgeons as of the others caused yet the body to bee easily conueyed into the litter all the people then beginning to roare and crie as though neuer till then they had lost their Lord. And if the terrour of Anaxius had not kept them vnder they would haue mutinied rather then suffered his bodie to be caried away But Anaxius him selfe riding before the litter with the choyce men of that place◠they were affraid euen to crie though they were ready to crie for feare but because that they might doo euery bodie forced euen with harming themselues to doo honour to him some throwing themselues vpon the grounde some tearing their clothes and casting duste vpon their heades and some euen woundring themselues and sprinkling their owne bloud in the aire The generall consort of whose mourning perfourmed so the naturall tunes of sorrow that euen to them if
while it protected her and withal she ran in to him and thrusting at his brest which he put by with his target as he was lifting vp his sword to strike againe she let fall the piece of her shield and with her left hand catching his sword of the inside of the pommell with nimble and strong sleight she had gotten his sword out of his hand before his sence could conuey to his imagination what was to be doubted And hauing now two swords against one shield meaning not foolishly to be vngratefull to good fortune while he was no more amazed with his being vnweapned then with the suddainnes therof she gaue him such a wound vpon his head in despite of the shields ouer-weake resistāce that withall he fell to the ground astonished with the paine agast with feare But seing Zelmane ready to conclude her victory in his death bowing vp his head to her with a countenance that had forgotten all pride Enough excellent Lady said he the honor is yours Wherof you shal want the best witnes if you kil me As you haue taken from men the glory of manhood returne so now againe to your owne sex for mercy I will redeeme my life of you with no small seruices for I will vndertake to make my brother obey all your commādements Grant life I beseech you for your own honor and for the persons sake that you loue best Zelmane represt a while her great hart either disdaining to be cruell or pitiful therfore not cruel now the image of humane condition begā to be an Orator vnto her of compassiō whē she saw as he lifted vp his armes with a suppliāts grace about one of thē vnhappily tied a garter with a Iewel which giuē to Pyrocles by his aunt of Thessalia greatly esteemed by him he had presented to Philoclea with inward rage promising extreame hatred had seene Lycurgus with a proud force not without some hurt vnto her pull away from Philoclea because at entreatie she would not giue it him But the sight of that was like a cyphar signifying all the iniuries which Philoclea had of him suffred that remēbrāce feeding vpō wrath trod down al cōceits of mercy And therfore saying no more but No villain dye It is Philoclea that sends thee this token for thy loue With that she made her sword drink the blood of his hart though he wresting his body with a countenance prepared to excuse wold faine haue delaied the receiuing of deaths embassadors But neither that staied Zelmanes hand nor yet Anaxius crie vnto her who hauing made fast the iron gate euen then came to the top of the staires when contrarie to all his imaginations he saw his brother lye at Zelmanes mercie Therefore crying promising and threatning to her to hold her hand the last grone of his brother was the onely answere he could get to his vnrespected eloquence But then Pittie would faine haue drawne teares which Furie in their spring dried and Anger would faine haue spoken but that Disdaine sealed vp his lippes but in his heart he blasphemed heauen that it could haue such a power ouer him no lesse ashamed of the victorie he should haue of her then of his brothers ouerthrow and no more spited that it was yet vnreuenged then that the reuenge should be no greater then a womans destruction Therefore with no speach but such a groning crie as often is the language of sorowfull anger he came running at Zelmane vse of fighting then seruing in steed of patient consideration what to do Guided wherewith though he did not with knowledge yet did he according to knowledge pressing vpon Zelmane in such a well defended manner that in all the combats that euer she had fought she had neuer more neede of quicke senses and ready vertue For being one of the greatest men of stature then liuing as he did fully answere that stature in greatnesse of might so did he exceede both in greatnes of courage which with a countenance formed by the nature both of his mind and body to an almost horrible fiercenes was able to haue carried feare to any minde that was not priuie to it selfe of a true and constant worthines But Pyrocles whose soule might well be separated from his body but neuer alienated from the remembring what was comely if at the first he did a little apprehend the dangerousnes of his aduersarie whom once before he had something tried and now perfectly sawe as the very picture of forcible furie yet was that apprehension quickly stayed in him rather strengthning then weakning his vertue by that wrestling like wine growing the stronger by being moued So that they both prepared in harts and able in hands did honor solitarines there with such a combat as might haue demaunded as a right of fortune whole armies of beholders But no beholders needed there where manhood blew the trumpet and satisfaction did whet as much as glorie There was strength against nimblenes rage against resolution fury against vertue confidence against courage pride against noblenesse loue in both breeding mutuall hatred and desire of reuenging the iniurie of his brothers slaughter to Anaxius being like Philocleas captiuity to Pyrocles Who had seene the one would haue thought nothing could haue resisted who had marked the other would haue marueiled that the other had so long resisted But like two contrarie tides either of which are able to carry worlds of shippes and men vpon them with such swiftnes as nothing seemes able to withstand them yet meeting one another with mingling their watrie forces and strugling together it is long to say whether streame gets the victorie So betweene these if Pallas had bene there she could scarcely haue tolde whether she had nurced better in the feates of armes The Irish greyhound against the English mastiffe the sword-fish against the whale the Rhinoceros against the elephant might be models and but models of this combat Anaxius was better armed defensiuely for beside a strong caske brauely couered wherewith he couered his head he had a huge shield such perchance as Achilles shewed to the pale walles of Troy wherewithall that great body was couered But Pyrocles vtterly vnarmed for defence to offend had the aduantage for in either hand he had a sword and with both handes nimbly performed that office And according as they were diuersly furnished so did they differ in the manner of fighting For Anaxius most by warding and Pyrocles oftnest by auoyding resisted the aduersaries assault Both hastie to end yet both often staying for aduantage Time distance and motion custom made them so perfect in that as if they had bene felow Counsellers and not enemies each knew the others minde and knewe how to preuent it So as their strength fayled them sooner then their skill and yet their breath fayled them sooner then their strength And breathles indeed they grew before either could complaine of any losse of bloud So that consenting by the
heauens do sende The heauens conspir'd to make my vitall sparke A wreched wracke a glasse of Ruines ende Seeing Alas so mightie powers bende Their ireful shotte against so weake a marke Come caue become my graue come death and lende Receipte to me within thy bosome darke For what is life to dayly dieng minde Where drawing breath I sucke the aire of woe Where too much sight makes all the bodie blinde And highest thoughts downeward most headlong throw Thus then my forme and thus my state I finde Death wrapt in flesh to liuing graue assign'd And pawsing but a little with monefull melodie it continued this octaue Like those sicke folkes in whome strange humors flowe Can taste no sweetes the sower onely please So to my minde while passions daylie growe Whose fyrie chaines vppon his freedome feaze Ioies strangers seeme I cannot bide their showe Nor brooke oughte els but well acquainted woe Bitter griefe tastes me best paine is my ease Sicke to the death still louing my disease O Venus saide Zelmane who is this so well acquainted with mee that can make so liuely a portracture of my miseries It is surely the spirit appointed to haue care of me which doth now in this darke place beare parte with the complaints of his vnhappie charge For if it be so that the heauens haue at all times a measure of their wrathefull harmes surely so many haue come to my blistlesse lot that the rest of the world hath too small a portion to make with cause so wailefull a lamentation But saide she whatsoeuer thou be I will seeke thee out for thy musique well assures me wee are at least-hand fellowe prentises to one vngracious master So raise shee and went guiding her selfe by the still playning voice till she sawe vppon a stone a little waxe light set and vnder it a piece of paper with these verses verie lately as it should seeme written in it HOwe is my Sunn whose beames are shining bright Become the cause of my darke ouglie night Or howe do I captiu'd in this darke plight Bewaile the case and in the cause delight My mangled mind huge horrors still doe fright With sense possest and claim'd by reasons right Betwixt which two in me I haue this fight Wher who so wynns I put my selfe to flight Come clowdie feares close vp my daseled sight Sorrowes suck vp the marowe of my might Due sighes blowe out all sparkes of ioyfull light Tyre on despaier vppon my tyred sprite An ende an ende my dulde penn cannot write Nor mas'de head thinke nor faltring tongerecite And hard vnderneath the sonnet were these wordes written This caue is darke but it had neuer light This waxe doth waste it selfe yet painelesse dyes These wordes are full of woes yet feele they none I darkned am who once had clearest sight I waste my harte which still newe torment tryes I plaine with cause my woes are all myne owne No caue no wasting waxe no wordes of griefe Can holde shew tell my paines without reliefe She did not long stay to reade the wordes for not farre off from the stone shee might discerne in a darke corner a Ladie lieng with her face so prostrate vpon the ground as she could neither know nor be knowen But as the generall nature of man is desirous of knowledge and sorrow especially glad to find fellowes she went as softely as she could conuey her foot neere vnto her where she heard these words come with vehement sobbings from her O darkenes saide shee which doest light somly me thinks make me see the picture of my inward darknes since I haue chosen thee to be the secret witnesse of my sorows let me receiue a safe receipte in thee and esteeme them not tedious but if it be possible let the vttering them be some discharge to my ouerloaden breast Alas sorrowe nowe thou hast the full sack of my conquered spirits rest thy selfe a while and set not stil new fire to thy owne spoiles O accursed reason how many eyes thou hast to see thy euills and thou dimme nay blinde thou arte in preuenting them Forlorne creature that I am I would I might be freely wicked since wickednesse doth preuaile but the foote steppes of my ouer-troden vertue lie still as bitter accusations vnto me I am deuided in my selfe howe can I stande I am ouerthrowne in my selfe who shall raise mee Vice is but a nurse of new agonies and the vertue I am diuorsed from makes the hatefull comparison the more manyfest No no vertue either I neuer had but a shadow of thee or thou thy selfe art but a shadow For how is my soule abandoned How are all my powers laide waste My desire is payned because it cannot hope and if hope came his best shoulde bee but mischiefe O strange mixture of humaine mindes onely so much good lefte as to make vs languish in our owne euills Yee infernall furies for it is too late for mee to awake my dead vertue or to place my comforte in the angrie Gods yee infernall furies I say aide one that dedicates her selfe vnto you let my rage bee satisfied since the effecte of it is fit for your seruice Neither bee afraide to make me too happie since nothing can come to appease the smart of my guiltie cōscience I desire but to asswage the sweltring of my hellish longing deiected Gynecia Zelmane no sooner heard the name of Gynecia but that with a colde sweate all ouer her as if she had ben ready to treade vpon a deadly stinging Adder she would haue withdrawne her selfe but her owne passion made her yeelde more vnquiet motions then she had done in comming So that she was perceaued Gynecia sodainely risne vp for in deed it was Ginecia gotten into this Caue the same Caue wherein Dametas had safelie kept Pamela in the late vprore to passe her pangs with change of places And as her minde ranne still vpon Zelmane her piercing louers eye had soone found it was she And seeing in her a countenance to flye away she fell downe at her feete and catching fast hold of her Alas sayd she whether or from whome doost thou flye awaye the sauagest beastes are wonne with seruice and there is no flint but may be mollifyed How is Gynecia so vnworthie in thine eyes or whome cannot aboundance of loue make worthie O thinke not that crueltie or vngratefulnes can flowe from a good minde O weigh Alas weigh with thy selfe the newe effectes of this mightie passion that I vnfit for my state vncomely for my sexe must become a suppliant at thy feete By the happie woman that bare thee by all the ioyes of thy hart and successe of thy desire I beseech thee turne thy selfe to some consideration of me and rather shew pittie in now helping me then into late repenting my death which hourely threatens me Zelmane imputing it to one of her continuall mishaps thus to haue met with this Lady with a full weary countenance Without doubt Madame said
with his Ladie at the stately pallace of Pella among the exceeding ioyes of his father and infinite congratulacions of his frends geuing order for the royall entertayning of Philoclea and for sumptuous shewes and triumphes against their mariage In the thought wherof as he found extremity of ioy so well found he that extremitie is not without a certayne ioyfull paine by extending the heart beyond his wonted limits and by so forcible a holding all the senses to one obiect that it confounds their mutuall working not without a charming kinde of rauishing them from the free vse of their owne function Thus grieued only with too much gladnes being come to the doore which should be the entrie to his happines he was met with the latter end of a song which Philoclea like a solitarie Nightingale bewayling her guiltlesse punishment and helplesse misfortune had newly deliuered ouer meaning none should be iudge of her passioÌ„ but her owne conscience The song hauing bene accorded to a sweetly playde on Lute conteyned these verses which she had lately with some arte curiously written to enwrap her secret and resolute woes VErtue 1 beawtie 2 and speach 3 did strike 1 wound 2 charme 3 My harte 1 eyes 2 eares 3 with wonder 1 loue 2 delight 3 First 1 second 2 last 3 did binde 1 enforce 2 and arme 3 His workes 1 showes 2 suites 3 with wit 1 grace 2 and vow's 3 might Thus honour 1 liking 2 trust 3 much 1 farre 2 and deepe 3 Held 1 pearst 2 possest 3 my iudgement 1 sence 2 and will 3 Till wrong 1 contempt 2 deceipt 3 did growe 1 steale 2 creepe 3 Bandes 1 fauour 2 faith 3 to breake 1 defile 2 and kill3. Then greefe 1 vnkindnes 2 proofe 3 tooke 1 kindled 2 tought 3 Well 1 grounded noble 2 due 3 spite 1 rage 2 disdaine 3 But 1 ah 2 alas 3 In vayne my minde 1 sight 2 thought 3 Doth him 1 his face 2 his words 3 leaue 1 shunne 2 refraine 3 For no thing 1 time 2 nor place 3 can loose 1 quench 2 ease 3 Nine owne 1 embraced 2 sought 3 knot 1 fire 2 desease3. The force of loue to those poore folke that feele it is many wayes very strange but no way stranger then that it doth so enchaine the louers iudgement vpon her that holdes the raines of his minde that what soeuer she doth is euer in his eyes best And that best being by the continuall motion of our changing life turned by her to any other thing that thing againe becommeth best So that nature in each kinde suffring but one superlatiue the louer only admits no positiue If she sit still that is best for so is the conspiracie of her seuerall graces held best together to make one perfect figure of beawtie If she walke no doubt that is best for besides the making happie the more places by her steps the very sturring addes a pleasing life to her natiue perfectioÌ„s If she be silent that without comparison is best since by that meanes the vntroubled eye most freely may deuoure the sweetnes of his obiect But if she speake he will take it vpon his death that is best the quintessence of each worde beeing distilled downe into his affected soule Example of this was well to be seene in the giuen ouer Pyrocles who with panting breath and somtime sighes not such as sorrowe restrayning the inwarde partes doth make them glad to deliuer but such as the impacience of delay with the vnsuretie of neuer so sure hope is wont to breath out nowe being at the doore of the one side hearing her voice which hee thought if the Philosophers said true of the heauenly seuen sphered harmony was by her not only represented but farre surmounted and of the other hauing his eyes ouerfilled with her beautie for the King at his parting had left the chamber open and she at that time laye as the heate of that countrie did wel suffer vpon the toppe of her bedd hauing her beauties eclipsed with nothing but with a faire smock wrought al in flames of ash-coullour silke and golde lying so vpoÌ„ her right side that the left thigh downe to the foote yeelded his delightfull proportion to the full vew which was seene by the helpe of a ritche lampe which thorowe the curtaines a little drawne caste forth a light vpon her as the moone doth when it shines into a thinne wood Pyrocles I saye was stopped with the violence of so many dartes cast by Cupid altogether vpon him that quite forgetting him selfe and thinking therein alreadie he was in the best degree of felicitie he would haue lost much of his time and with too much loue omitted the enterprise vndertaken for his loue had not Philocleas pittifull accusing of him forced him to bring his spirites againe to a newe bias for shee laying her hand vnder her faire cheek vpon which there did priuilie tickle the sweet droppes of her delightfull though sorrowfull teares made these wordes waite vpon her monefull songe And hath that cruell Pyrocles saide shee deserued thus much of me that I should for his sake lift vp my voice in my best tunes and to him continually with powring out my plainte make a diâ—dayned oblacion Shall my soule still doe this honour to his vnmercyfull tirranie by my lamenting his losse to show his worthines and my weakenes He heares thee not simple Philoclea he heares thee not and if he did some hartes grow the harder the more they find their aduantage Alas what a miserable constitution of minde haue I I disdaine my fortune and yet reuerence him that disdaines me I accuse his vngratefulnes and haue his vertue in admiration O yee deafe heauens I would either his iniury could blot out myne affection or my affection could forget his iniury With that geuing a pittiful but sweet shriche shee tooke againe the lute and beganne to sing this sonnet which might serue as an explaining to the other THe loue which is imprinted in my soule With beauties seale and vertue faire disguis'de With inward cries putts vp a bitter role Of huge complaintes that now it is despis'de Thus thus the more I loue the wronge the more Monstrous appeares long trueth receaued late Wrong sturres remorsed greefe griefes deadly sore Vnkindnes breedes vnkindnes fostreth hath But ah the more I hate the more I thinke Whome I doe hate the more I thinke on him The more his matchlesse giftes do deepely sinck Into my breste and loues renewed swimme What medicin then can such desease remoue Where loue draws hate and hate engendreth loue But Pyrocles that had heard his name accused coÌ„demned by the mouth which of all the world and more then all the worldâ— he most loued had then cause enough to call his minde to his home and with the most haste he could for true loue feares the accident of an instant to match the excusing of his faulte with declaration of his arrand thither And therefore blowne vp
returnes an imagined wrong with an effectuall iniury O foole to make quarell my supplication or to vse hate as the mediator of loue childish Philoclea had thou throwne away the Iewell wherein all thy pride consisted Hast thou with too much hast ouerrun thy selfe Then would she renew her kisses O yet not finding the life retourne redouble her plaintes in this manner O diuine soule saide she whose vertue can possesse no lesse then the highest place in heauen if for mine eternall plague thou haste vtterly lefte this most sweet mansion before I follow thee with Thisbes punishment for my rashe vnwarinesse heare this protestation of mine That as the wrong I haue done thee proceeded of a most sincere but vnresistable affection so led with this pittifull example it shall ende in the mortall hate of my selfe and if it may be I will make my soule a tombe of thy memory At that worde with anguish of minde and weakenes of body encreased one by the other and both augmented by this feareful accident she had falne downe in a sounde but that Pyrocles then first seuering his eye liddes and quickly apprehending her daunger to him more then death beyond all powers striuing to recouer the commaundement of al his powers staied her from falling and then lifting the sweet burthen of her body in his armes laid her againe in her bedd So that she but then the Physition was nowe become the pacient he to whom her weaknesse had bene seruiceable was now enforced to do seruice to her weaknesse which performed by him with that hartie care which the most carefull loue on the best loued subiect in greatest extremitie could employ preuailed so farre that ere long shee was able though in strength exceedingly deiected to call home her wandering senses to yeelde attention to that her beloued Pyrocles had to deliuer But he lying downe on the bed by her holding her hand in his with so kind an accusing her of vnkindnes as in accusing her he condemned himself began from pointe to pointe to discouer vnto her all that had passed betwene his loathed louers him How he had entertained by entertaining deceiued both Basilius Gynecia that with such a kind of deceipt as either might see the cause in the other but neither espie the effect in themselues That al his fauors to theÌ„ had tended only to make them strangers to this his actioÌ„ al his strangnes to her to the final obtaining of her long promised now to be perfourmed fauour Which deuise seing it had so well succeeded to the remouing all other hinderances that only her resolutioÌ„ remained for the taking their happy iournie he coniured her by al the loue she had euer borne him shee would make no longer delay to partake with him whatsoeuer honors the noble kingdoÌ„e of Macedon al other Euarchus dominioÌ„s might yeeld him especially since in this enterprise he had now waded so farr as he could not possibly retire himself back without being ouerwhelmed with dauÌ„ger dishoÌ„our He neded not haue vsed further arguments of perswasioÌ„ for that only coniuratioÌ„ had so forcibly bound all her spirits that could her body haue secoÌ„ded her mind or her mind haue strengthened her body without respect of any worldly thing but only feare to be againe vnkind to Pyrocles she had condiscended to goe with him But raising her selfe a litle in her bed finding her own vnabilitie in any sorte to endure the aire My Pyrocles said she with tearefull eyes a pittifull couÌ„tenance such as well witnessed she had no will to deny any thing she had power to performe if you can conuey me hence in such plight as you see me I am most willing to make my â—xtreamest dauÌ„ger a testimonie that I esteme no dauÌ„ger in regard of your vertuous satisfaction But if shee fainted so faste that she was not able to vtter the rest of her conceiued speech which also turned Pyrocles thoughts from expecting further answere to the necessary care of reuiuing her in whose fainting himself was more theÌ„ ouerthrown And that hauing effected with al the sweet meaÌ„s his wits could deuise though his highest hopes were by this vnexpected downfall sunke deeper theÌ„ any degree of dispaire yet lest the appearaÌ„ce of his inward grief might occasioÌ„ her further discoÌ„fort hauing racked his face to a more coÌ„fortable semblaÌ„ce he sought some shew of reason to shew shee had no reason either for him or for her selfe so to be aflicted Which in the sweete minded Philoclea whose consideration was limited by his wordes and whose conceite pearced no deeper then his outwarde countenaunce wrought within a while such quietnesse of mind and that quietnesse againe such repose of bodie that slepe by his harbingers weakenesse wearines and watchfulnes had quickly taken vp his lodging in all her senses Then indeed had Pyrocles leasure to sit in iudgement on himselfe and to heare his reason accuse his rashnes who without forecaste of doubte without knowledge of his friende without acquainting Philoclea with his purpose or being made acquainted with her present estate had falne headlong into that attempt the successe whereof hee had long since set downe to himselfe as the measure of all his other fortunes But calling to minde howe weakely they do that rather finde faulte with what cannot be amended then seek to amend wherein they haue beene faultie he soone turned him from remembring what might haue beene done to considering what was now to be done and when that consideration fayled what was now to be expected Wherein hauing runne ouer all the thoughts his reason called to the strictest accountes could bring before him at length he lighted on this That as long as Gynecia bewraied not the matter which he thought she woulde not doe aswell for her owne honour and safetie as for the hope she might stil haue of him which is loth to die in a louers hart all the rest might turne to a preatie meryment and enflame his louer Basilius againe to cast aboute for the missed fauour And as naturally the harte stuffed vp with wofulnes is glad greedelie to sucke the thinnest aire of comforte so did hee at the first embrace this conceite as offeringe great hope if not assurance of well doing Till looking more neerely into it and not able to answere the doubts and difficulties he sawe therein more and more arising the night being also farre spent his thoughtes euen wearie of their owne burthens fell to a straying kind of vncertaintie and his minde standing onely vpon the nature of inward intelligences lefte his bodie to giue a sleeping respite to his vitall spirites which he according to the qualitie of Sorrow receiued with greater greedines then euer in his life before According to the nature of sorrow I say which is past cares remedie For care sturring the braines and making thinne the spirites breaketh rest but those griefes wherein one is determined there is no preuenting do brede a dull
heauinesse which easely clothes it selfe in sleepe So as laid downe so neare the beautie of the worlde Philoclea that their neckes were subiect each to others chaste embracements it seemed loue had come thither to laye a plott in that picture of death how gladly if death came their soules would goe together The thirde Egloges THyrsis not with many painted words nor falsified promises had wone the consent of his beloued Kala but with a true simple making her know he loued her not forcing himselfe beyond his reach to buy her affection but giuing her such preatie presentes as neither coulde wearie him with the giuing nor shame her for the taking Thus the first Strawberies he could find were euer in a cleane washt dish sent to Kala thus poesies of the spring flowers were wrapt vp in a litle grene silke and dedicated to Kalas brestes thus somtimes his sweetest Creame sometimes the best Cakebread his mother made were reserued for Kalas taste Neither would hee stick to kil a lamb when she would be content to come ouer the way vnto him But theÌ„ lo how the house was swept rather no fire theÌ„ any smoke lefte to trouble her Then loue songes were not daintie when she would heare them and as much manerlie silence when shee would not in going to Church great worship to Kala. So that all the parish said neuer a maide they knew so well wayted on and when dauncing was about the Maypole no body taken out but she and he after a leape or two to shewe her his owne actiuitie woulde frame all the rest of his dauncing onely to grace her As for her fathers sheepe he had no lesse care of them then his owne so that she might play her as she would warranted with honest Thyrsis carefulnes But if he spied Kala fauourd any one of the flocke more then his fellowes then that was cherished shearing him so when shorne he must be as might most become him but while the wole was on wrapping within it â—â—me verses wherin Thyrsis had a speciall gifte and making the innocent beast his vnweting messinger Thus constantly continuing though he were none of the fayrest at length he wanne Kalas harte the honestest wenche in all those quarters And so with consent of both parents without which nether Thyrsis would aske nor Kala grant their marring day was appointed which because it fell out in this time I thinke it shall not be impertinent to remember a little our shepheards while the other greater persons are either sleeping or otherwise troubled Thyrsis mariage time once knowne there needed no inuiting of the neighbours in that valley for so well was Thyrsis beloued that they were already to doe him credit neither yet came they like Harpies to deuoure him but on bought a fat pigge the other a tender kidd the thirde a great goose as for chese milke butter were the gossips presents Thither came of strange shepheards onely the melancholy Philisides â—or the vertuous Coridon had long since left off al his ioyful solemnities And as for Strephon and Klaius they had lost their mistresse which put them into such extreme sorrowes as they could scarcely abide the light of the daye much lesse the eyes of men But of the Arcadian borne shepheardes thither came good olde Geron young Histor though vnwilling and vpright Dicus mery Pass and iolly Nico. As for Damaetas they durst not presume his pride was such to inuite him and Dorus they founde might not bee spared And there vnder a bower was made of bowes for Thyrsis house was not able to receaue them euery one placed according to his age The women for such was the maner of the country kept together to make good cheare among themselues from which otherwise a certaine painefull modestie restraines them and there might the sadder matrones giue good counsel to Kala who poore soule wept for feare of that she desired But among the shepheards was al honest libertie no feare of daungerous tel-tales who hunt greater prayes nor indeede mindes in them to giue tell-tales any occasion but one questioning with another of the manuring his ground and gouerning his flock the highest pointe they reached to was to talke of the holines of mariage to which purpose assoone as their sober dynner was ended Dycus insteede of thankes sange this songe with a cleare voice and cheerfull countenaunce LEt mother earth now decke her selfe in flowers To see her ofspring seeke a good increase Where iustest loue doth vanquish Cupids powers And ware of thoughts is swallow'd vp in peace Which neuer may decrease But like the turtells faire Liue one in two a well vnited paire Which that no chaunce may staine O Himen long their coupled ioyes maintaine O heau'n awake shewe forth thy stately face Let not these slumbring clowds thy beawties hide But with thy cheerefull presence helpe to grace The honest Bridegroome and the bashfull Bride Whose loues may euer bide Like to the Elme and Vyne With mutuall embracements them to twyne In which delightfull paine O Himen long their coupled ioyes maintaine Yee Muses all which chaste affects allow And haue to Thyrsis shewd your secret skill To this chaste loue your sacred fauours bow And so to him and her your giftes distill That they all vice may kill And like to lillies pure May please all eyes and spotlesse may endure Where that all blisse may raigne O Himen long their coupled ioyes maintaine Yee Nymphes which in the waters empire haue Since Thyrsis musick oft doth yeeld you praise Graunt to the thing which we for Thyrsis craue Let one time but long first close vp their daies One graue their bodies seaze And like two riuers sweete When they though diuers do together meete One streame both streames containe O Himen long their coupled ioyes maintaine Pan father Pan the god of silly sheepe Whose care is cause that they in number growe Haue much more care of them that them do keepe Since from these good the others good doth flowe And make their issue showe In number like the hearde Of yonglings which thy selfe with loue hast rearde Or like the drops of raine O Himen long their coupled ioyes maintaine Vertue if not a God yet Gods chiefe parte Be thou the knot of this their open vowe That still he be her head she be his harte He leane to her she vnto him do bow Each other still allow Like Oke and Mistletoe Her strength from him his praise from her do growe In which most louely traine O Himen long their coupled ioyes maintaine But thou foule Cupid syre to lawlesse lust Be thou farre hence with thy empoyson'd darte Which though of glittring golde shall heere take rust Where simple loue which chastnesse doth imparte Auoydes thy hurtfull arte Not needing charming skill Such mindes with sweet affections for to fill Which being pure and plaine O Himen long their coupled ioyes maintaine All churlish wordes shrewd answeres crabbed lookes All priuatenes selfe-seeking inward
and a Princesse aliue But once for them she might haue gone whether she would thinking it a sacriledge to touch her person when she finding she finding she was not a sufficieÌ„t oratour to perswade her own death by their haÌ„ds well said she it is but so much more time of miserie for my part I will not geue my life so much pleasure from hence forward as to yeeld to his desire of his own choise of death since all the rest is taken away yet let me excell in miserie Leade me therfore whether you will only happy because I can not be more wretched But neyther so much would the honest Shepheards do but rather with many teares bemoned this encrease of their former losse till she was faine to leade them with a very strange spectacle either that a Princesse should be in the hands of Shepheards or a prisoner should direct her gardiens lastly before either witnes or accuser a Lady condemne her selfe to death But in such monefull â—arch they went towards the other Shepheards who in the meane time had left nothing vnassaied to reuiue the King but all was bootles and their sorrowes encreased the more they had suffred any hopes vainly to arise Among other trialls they made to know at least the cause of his end hauing espied the vnhappy cup they gaue the little liquor that was left to a dogge of Damaetas in which within a short time it wrought the like effect although Damaetas did so much to recouer him that for very loue of his life he dasht out his braines But now all togither and hauing Gynaecia among them who to make her selfe the more odious did continuallie record to their mindes the excesse of their losse they yelded themselues ouer to all those formes of lamentacion that dolefull images do imprint in the honest but ouer tender hartes especially when they thinke the rebound of the euill falls to their owne smart Therefore after the auncient greeke maner some of them remembring the nobilitie of his birth continued by being like his Auncestors others his shape which though not excellent yet fauour and pittie drew all things now to the highest point others his peaceable gouernment the thing which most pleaseth men resolued to liue of their owne others his liberalitie which though it cannot light vpon all men yet men naturallie hoping it may be they make it a most amiable vertue Some calling in question the greatnes of his power which encreased the compassion to see the present change hauing a dolefull memorie how he had tempered it with such familier curtesie among them that they did more feele the fruites then see the pompes of his greatnes all with one consent geuing him the sacred titles of good iust mercifull the father of the people the life of his Countrie they ranne about his body tearing their beards and garments some sending their cryes to heauen other inuenting perticular howling musicke manie vowing to kill themselues at the day of his funeralls generallie geuing a true testimonye that men are louing creatures when iniuries put them not from their naturall course and howe easily a thing it is for a Prince by succession deeplie to sinke into the soules of his subiects a more liuely monument then Mausolus Tombe But as with such hartie lamentacion they dispersed among those woods their resounding shrikes the Sunne the perfectest marke of time hauing now gotten vp two howres iourney in his dayly changing Circle their voice helped with the only answering Echo came to the eares of the faithfull and worthy Gentleman Philanax who at that time was comming to visite the King accompanyed with diuers of the worthie Arcadian Lords who with him had visited the places adioyning for the more assurance of Basilius solitarines a thing after the late mutinie he had vsually done and since the Princesses returne more diligentlie continued which hauing nowe likewise performed thinking it as well his duty to see the King as of good purpose being so neare to receyue his further direction accompanied as aboue sayd he was this morning comming vnto him when these vnpleasant voices gaue his minde an vncertaine presage of his neere approching sorow For by and by he saw the bodie of his dearely esteemed Prince and heard Gynecias lamenting not such as the turtle-like loue is wont to make for the euer ouer-soone losse of her only loued make but with curfings of her life detesting her owne wickednes seeming only therefore not to desire death because she would not shew a loue of any thing The Shepheards especially Damaetas knowing him to be the second person in Aucthoritie gaue forthwith relacion vnto him what they knewe and had proued of this dolorous spectacle besides the other accidents of his children But he principally touched with his maisters losse lighting from his horse with a heauie cheare came and kneeled downe by him where finding he could do no more then the Shepheards had for his recouerie the constancie of his minde surprised before he might call together his best rules could not refraine such like words Ah deere maister sayd he what change it hath pleased the Almightie Iustice to worke in this place How soone not to your losse who hauing liued long to nature and to time longer by your well deserued glorie but longest of all in the eternall mansion you now possesse But how soone I say to our ruine haue you left the fraile barke of your estate O that the words in most faithfull dutie deliuered vnto you when you first entred this solitarie course might haue wrought as much perswasion in you as they â—prang from truth in me perchaunce your seruaunt Philanax should not nowe haue cause in your losse to bewayle his owne ouerthrowe And therewith taking himselfe and in deede euill fitteth it me sayde he to let goe my harte to womanish complaints since my Prince being vndoubtedly well it rather shewes loue of my selfe which makes me bewaile mine owne losse No the true loue must be proued in the honor of your memorie and that must be shewed with seeking iust reuenge vpon your vniust and vnnaturall enemies and farre more honorable it will be for your Tombe to haue the blood of your murderers sprinkled vpon it then the teares of your friendes And if your soule looke downe vppon this miserable earth I doubt not it had much rather your death were accompanyed with well deserued punishment of the causers of it then with the heaping on it more sorrowes with the ende of them to whome you vouchsafed your affection let them lament that haue wouen the webbe of lamentacion let theyr owne deathes make them crye out for your death that were the authors of it Therewith carying manfull sorowe and vindicatiâ—e resolucion in his face he rose vp so looking on the poore guiltlesse princesse transported with an vniust iustice that his eyes were sufficient herauldes for him to denounce a mortall hatred She whome furies of loue firebrands of her conscience shame of the
world with the miserable losse of her husband towardes whome nowe the disdaine of her selfe bred more loue with the remembrance of her vision wherewith she resolued assuredly the Gods had appointed that shamefull end to be her resting place had set her mind to no other way but to death vsed such like speeches to Philanax as she had before to the Shepheards willing him not to looke vpon her as a woman but a monster not as a princesse but a traytor to his prince not as Basilius wife but as Basilius murtherer She tolde him howe the worlde required at his handes the iust demonstration of his friendship if hee nowe forgot his Prince hee shoulde shewe hee had neuer loued but hys fortune like those vermine that sucke of the liuing bloud and leaue the body assoone as it is dead poore Princesse needelesly seeking to kindle him who did most deadly detest her which he vttered in this bitter answere Madame saide he you do well to hate your selfe for you cannot hate a worse creature and though we feele enough your hellish disposition yet we neede not doubt you are of counsell to your selfe of much worse then we know But now feare not you shall not long be combred with being guided by so euell a soule therefore prepare your selfe that if it be possible you may deliuer vp your spirit so much purer as you more wash your wickednes with repentaunce Then hauing presently giuen order for the bringing from Mantinea a great number of tents for the receipt of the principall Arcadians the maner of that countrie being that where the Prince died ther should be orders taken for the countries gouernment and in the place any murther was committed the iudgement should be giuen ther before the body was buried both concurring is this matter and alredy great parte of the Nobilitie being ariued he deliuered the Princes to a gentelman of greate trust and as for Damaetas taking from him the keyes of both the lodges calling him the moth of his Princes estate and onely spot of his iudgement he caused him with his wife and daughter to bee fettered vp in as manye chaines and clogges as they coulde beare and euery thirde howre to bee cruelly whipt till the determinate iudgement should be giuen of all these matters That done hauing sent alredy at his comming to all the quarters of the countrie to seeke Pamela although with smal hope of ouertaking them he himself went wel accompanied to the lodge where the two vnfortunate louers were attending a cruell conclusion of their long painefull and late most painefull affection Damaetas clownish eyes hauing ben the onely discouerers of Pyrocles stratagem had no sooner taken a full vewe of them which in some sightes would rather haue bred any thing then an accusing minde and locked the doore vpon these two yong folkes now made prisoners for loue as before they had bene prisoners to loue But that imediatly vpon his going downe whether with noyse Damaetas made or with the creeping in of the light or rather that as extreame griefe had procured his sleepe so extreame care had measured his sleepe giuinge his sences a very early salüe to come to themselues Pyrocles awaked And being vp the first euill hansell he had of the ill case wherein he was was the seeing himselfe depriued of his sworde from which he had neuer seperated himselfe in any occasion and euen that night first by the Kinges bedd and then there had laid it as he thought safe putting great parte of the trust of his well doing in his owne cowrage so armed For indeed the confidence in ones self is the chiefe nurse of magnanimitie which confidence notwithstanding doth not leaue the care of necessarie furnitures for it and therefore of all the Grecians Homere doth euer make Achilles the best armed But that as I say was the first ill token but by and by he perceaued he was a prisoner before any arest for the doore which he had lefte open was made â—o fast of the outside that for all the force he could employe vnto it he could not vndo Damaetas doing then went he to the windowes to see if that waye there were any escape for him and his deare Lady but as vaine hee founde all his employment there not hauing might to breake out but onely one barre wherin notwithstanding he strained his sinewes to the vttermost And that he rather took out to vse for other seruice then for any possibilitie he had to escape for euen then it was that Damaetas hauing gathered together the first comming sheepheards did blabber out what hee haâ— founde in the Ladye Philocleas chamber Pyrocles markingly harkned to all that Damaetas said whose voice and minde acquaintance had taught him sufficiently to know But when he assuredly perceaued that his being with the Lady Philoclea was fullie discouered by the follie or malice or rather malicious follie of Damaetas her honour therein touched in the hiest degree remembring withal the crueltie of the Arcadian lawes which without exception did condemn al to death who were fouÌ„d as Damaetas reported of them in acte of mariage without solemnitie of mariage assuring himselfe besides the law the King the Queene woulde vse so much more hate against their daughter as they had found themselues sotted by him in the pursute of their loue Lastly seing they were not only in the way of death but fittly encaged for death looking with a hartie griefe vpon the honour of loue the fellowes Philoclea whose innocent soule now enioying his owne goodnes did little knowe the daunger of his euer faire then sleeping harbour his excellent wit strengthened with vertue but guided by loue had soone described to himselfe a perfect vision of their present condition wherein hauing presently cast a resolute reckoning of his owne parte of the misery not only the chiefe but sole burthen of his anguish consisted in the vnworthy case which was like to fall vpon the best deseruing Philoclea He saw the misfortune not the mismeaning of his worke was like to bring that creature to end in whom the worlde as he thought did begin to receaue honour hee saw the weake iudgement of man woulde condemne that as death deseruing voice in her which had in troth neuer broken the bonds of a true liuing vertue how often his eye turned to his attractiue adamant so often did an vnspeakable horror strike his noble hart to coÌ„sider so vnripe yeares so fautles a beautie the mansion of so pure goodnes should haue her youth so vntimely cut off her naturall perfections vnnaturallie coÌ„sumed her vertue rewarded with shame somtimes he would accuse himselfe of necligence that had not more curiously looked to al the house entries yet coulde hee not imagine the way Damaetas was gotten in to call backe what might haue ben to a maÌ„ of wisdom courage caries but a vaine shadow of discourse somtimes he could not chose but with a dissolutioÌ„ of his inward
man might perceue what smal difference in the working there is betwixt a simple voidnes of euill a iudiciall habit of vertue For she not with an vnshaked magnanimity wherewith Pyrocles wayed dispised death but with an innocent guiltlessnes not knowing why she should feare to deliuer her vnstayned soule to God helped with the true louing of Pyrocles which made her think no life without him did almost bring her minde to as quiet attending all accidents as the vnmastred vertu of Pyrocles Yet hauing with a pretty palenes which did leaue milken lines vpon her rosie cheekes payd a little dutie to humane feare taking the Prince by the hand and kissing the wound he had giuen himselfe O the only life of my life and if it fall out so the comforte of my death saide shee farre farre from you be the doing me such wronge as to thinke I will receaue my life as a purchase of your death but well may you make my death so much more miserable as it shall any thinge be delayed after my onely felicitie Doe you thincke I can accompte of the moment of death like the vnspeakeable afflictions my soule shoulde suffer so ofte as I call Pyrocles to my minde which should be as ofte as I breathed Should these eyes guide my steppes that had seene your murder should these hands feede me that had not hindred such a mischiefe Should this harte remaine within me at euery pant to count the continuall clock of my miseries O no if die we must let vs thanke death he hath not deuided so true an vnion And truely my Pyrocles I haue heard my father and other wise men say that the killing ones selfe is but a false coulloure of true courage proceeding rather of feare of a further euil either of torment or shame For if it were a not respecting the harme that woulde likewise make him not respect what might be done vnto him and hope being of al other the most contrary thing to feare this being an vtter banishment of hope it seemes to receaue his ground in feare Whatsoeuer would they say comes out of despaire cannot beare the title of valure which should bee lifted vp to such a hight that holding al things vnder it selfe it should be able to maintaine his greatnes euen in the middest of miseries Lastly they would saye God had appointed vs Captaines of these our boddylie fortes which without treason to that Maiestie were neuer to be deliuered ouer till they were redemaunded Pyrocles who had that for a lawe vnto him not to leaue Philoclea in any thing vnsatisfied although hee still remained in his former purpose and knew that time would grow short for it yet hearing no noyse the shepheardes being as then run to Basilius with setled and humbled countenaunce as a man that should haue spoken of a thing that did not concerne himself bearing eueÌ„ in his eyes sufficient showes that it was nothing but Philocleas danger which did any thinge burden his harte farre stronger then fortune hauing with vehement embracinges of her got yet some fruite of his delayed end he thus aunswered the wise innocency of Philoclea Lady most worthy not only of life but to be the verie life of al things the more notable demonstrations you make of the loue so farre beyond my deserte with which it pleaseth you to ouercome fortune in making mee happye the more am I euen in course of humanitie to leaue that loues force which I neither can nor will leaue bound to seeke requitals witnes that I am not vngratefull to do which the infinitnes of your goodnes being such as it caÌ„not reach vnto it yet doing al I can and paying my life which is all I haue though it be farre without measure shorte of your desarte yet shall I not die in debt to mine owne dutie And truly the more excellent arguments you made to keep me from this passage imagined farre more terrible then it is the more plainely it makes mee see what reason I haue to preuent the losse not only of Arcadia but all the face of the earth should receaue iâ— such a tree which euen in his first spring doth not onely beare most beautifull blossomes but most rare fruites should be so vntimely cut off Therefore ô most truely beloued Lady to whom I desire for both our goods that these may bee my last wordes geue me your consent euen out of that wisedome which must needes see that besids your vnmatched betternesse which perchaunce you will not see it is fitter one dietheÌ„ both And since you haue sufficiently showed you loue me let me claime by that loue you wil â—e content rather to let me die contentedly then wretchedly rather with a cleare and ioyfull conscience then with desperate condemnation in my selfe that I accursed villaine shoulde bee the meane of banishing from the sight of men the true example of vertue And because there is nothing lefte me to be imagined which I so much desire as that the memory of Pyrocles may euer haue an allowed place in your wise iudgement I am content to drawe so much breath longer as by aunswearing the sweete obiections you alledged maye bequath as I thinke aright conceate vnto you that this my doinge is out of iudgement and not sprong of passion Your father you say was wont to say that this like action doth more proceed of feare of furder euil or shame then of a true courage Truly first they put a very gessing case speaking of them who can euer after come to tell with what minde they did it And as for my parte I call the immortall truth to witnes that no feare of torment can appall me who know it is but diuerse manners of apparelling death and haue long learned to set bodely paine but in the second fourme of my being And as for shame how can I be ashamed of that for which my well meaning conscience wil answeare for me to God and your vnresistable beautie to the world But to take that argument in his owne force and graunt it done for auoyding of further paine or dishonour for as for the name of feare it is but an odious title of a passion giuen to that which true iudgement performeth graunt I say it is to shun a worse case truly I do not see but that true fortitude loking into al humaine things with a persisting resolutioÌ„ carried away neither with wonder of pleasing things nor astonishment of the vnpleasaunt doth not yet depriue it selfe of the discerning the difference of euill but rather is the onely vertue which with an assured tranquillitye shunnes the greater by the valiant entring into the lesse Thus for his countries safety he wil spend his life for the sauing of a lym he will not niggardly spare his goods for the sauing of all his body hee will not spare the cutting of a lym where indeed the weake harted man will rather dye then see the face of a surgeon who mightwith as
euill done the cause of rewarde is the opinion of some good acte and who so rewardeth that holdes the chief place of his fancie Now one man of one companie to haue the same consideration both of good and euill but that the conceite of pardoning if it bee pardoned will take away the minde of rewarding is very hard if not impossible For either euen in iustice will he punish the fault as well as reward the desert or els in mercie ballance the one by the other so that the not chastising shal be a sufficient satisfiing Thus then you may see that in your owne purpose rests greate vncertaintie But I will graunt that by this your deede you shall obtaine your double purpose Yet consider I pray you whether by another meane that may not better be obtained then I doubt not your wisdomes wil teach you to take hold of the better I am sure you knowe any body were better haue no neede of a pardon then enioy a pardon for as it carries with it the suretie of a preserued life so beares it a continuall note of a deserued death This therefore besides the daunger you may runne into my Lady Pamela being the vndoubted enheritrixe of this state if shee shall hereafter seeke to reuenge your wrong done her shall bee continually cast in your teeth as men dead by the lawe the honester sorte will disdaine your company your children shal be the more basely reputed of you yourselues in euery slight fault hereafter as men once condemned aptest to bee ouerthrowne Now if you will I doubt not you will for you are wise turne your course and garde my Lady Pamela thither ward whether shee was going first you neede not doubt to aduenture your fortunes where shee goes and there shall you be assured in a countrie as good and rich as this of the same manners and language to bee so farre from the conceate of a pardon as we both shall be forced to acknowledge we haue receaued by your meanes what soeuer we holde deere in this life And so for rewarde iudge you whether it be not more likely you shall there receaue it where you haue done no euill but singuler and vndeserued goodnes or here where this seruice of yours shal be diminished by your dutie and blemished by your former fault Yes I protest and sweare vnto you by the faire eyes of that Lady there shall no Gentlemen in all that country bee preferred You shall haue riches ease pleasure and that which is best to such worthy mindes you shall not bee forced to crie mercy for a good facte You onely of all the Arcadians shall haue the prayse in continuing in your late valiaunt attempte and not basely bee brought vnder a halter for seeking the libertie of Arcadia These wordes in their mindes who did nothing for any loue of goodnes but onely as their senses presented greater showes of proffit beganne to make them wauer and some to clappe their hands and scratch their heades and sweare it was the best way Others that would seeme wiser then the rest to capitulate what tenements they should haue what subsidies they should pay others to talke of their wiues in doubt whether it were best to send for thē or to take new wher they went most like fooles not reddely thinking what was next to bee done but imagining what cheere they woulde make when they came there one or two of the least discourses beginning to turne their faces towards the woods which they had lefte But being nowe come within the plaine neere to the lodges vnhappily they espied a troupe of horsmen But then their false harts had quickly for the present feare forsaken their last hopes and therfore keeping on the way toward the lodge with songes of cries and ioye the horsemen who were some of them Philanax had sent out to the search of Pamela came gallowping vnto them marueyling who they were that in such a generall mourning durst singe ioyfull tunes and in so publicke a ruine were the lawrell tokens of victorie And that which seemed straungest they might see two among them vnarmed like prisoners but riding like captaines But when they came neerer they perceaued the one was a Lady and the Lady Pamela Then glad they had by happ found that which they so litle hoped to meete withall taking these clownes who first resisted them for the desire they had to be the deliuerers of the two excellent prisoners learning that they were of those rebells which had made the daungerous vprore aswell vnder cullour to punish that as this their last withstanding them but indeed their principal cause being because they themselues would haue the onely praise of their owne quest they suffered not one of them to liue Marry three of the stubbernest of them they lefte their bodies hanging vppon the trees because their doing might carry the likelier forme of iudgement Such an vnlooked for end did the life of iustice worke for the naughtie minded wretches by subiects to be executed that would haue executed Princes and to suffer that without lawe which by lawe they had deserued And thus these yonge folkes twise prisoners before any due arrest deliuered of their iayloures but not of their iayle had rather change then respit of misery these souldiers that tooke them with verie fewe wordes of entertainement hasting to carrie them to their Lorde Philanax to whom they came euen as he going out of the Lady Philocleas chamber had ouertaken Pyrocles whom before hee had deliuered to the custody of a noble man of that countrie When Pyrocles led towardes his prison sawe his friend Musidorus with the noble Lady Pamela in that in expected sorte returned his griefe if any griefe were in a minde which had placed euery thing according to his naturall worthe was verie much augmented for besides some small hope hee had if Musidorus had once bene cleere of Arcadia by his dealing and aucthoritie to haue brought his onely gladsome desires to a good issue The hard estate of his friend did no lesse nay rather more vexe him then his owne For so indeede it is euer founde where valure and friendshipp are perfectly coopled in one hart the reason being that the resolute man hauing once disgested in his iudgement the worst extremitie of his owne case and hauing either quiet expelled or at least repelled all passion which ordinarilie followes an ouerthrowne fortune not knowing his friendes minde so well as his owne nor with what pacience he brookes his case which is as it were the materiall cause of making a man happie or vnhappie doubts whether his friend accomptes not him selfe more miserable and so indeede bee more lamentable But assoone as Musidorus was brought by the souldiers neere vnto Philanax Pyrocles not knowing whether euer after hee should bee suffered to see his friende and determining there could be no aduauntage by dissembling a not knowing of him leapt sodainelie from their hands that helde him and passing
shape which by mans eye might be perceaued Vertue is dead now set the triumph here Now set thy triumph in this world bereaued Of what was good where now no good doth lie And by the pompe our losse will be conceaued O notes of mine your selues together tie With too much griefe me thinkes you are dissolued Your dolefull tunes sweet Muses now applie Time euer old and yong is still reuolued Within it selfe and neuer tasteth ende But mankind is for aye to nought resolued The filthy snake her aged coate can mende And getting youth againe in youth doth flourish But vnto Man age euer death doth sende The very trees with grafting we can cherish So that we can long time produce their time But Man which helpeth them helplesse must perish Thus thus the mindes which ouer all doo clime When they by yeares experience get best graces Must finish then by deaths detested crime We last short while and build long lasting places Ah let vs all against foule Nature crie We Natures workes doo helpe she vs defaces For how can Nature vnto this reply That she her child I say her best child killeth Your dolefull tunes sweete Muses now apply Alas me thinkes my weakned voice but spilleth The vehement course of this iust lamentation Me thinkes my sound no place with sorrow filleth I know not I but once in detestation I haue my â—elfe and all what life containeth Since Death on Vertues fort hath made inuasion One word of woe another after traineth Ne doo I care how râ—de be my inuention So it be seene what sorrow in me raigneth O Elements by whose men say contention Our bodies be in liuing power maintained Was this mans death the fruite of your dissention O Phisickes power which some say hath restrained Approch of death alas thou helpest meagerly When once one is for Atropos distrained Great be Physitions brags but aid is beggerly When rooted moisture failes or groweth drie They leaue off all and say death commes too eagerlie They are but words therefore that men do buy Of any since God AEsculapius ceased Your dolefull tunes sweete Muses now apply Iustice iustice is now alas oppressed Bountifulnes hath made his last conclusion Goodnes for best attire in dust is dressed Shepheards bewaile your vttermost confusion And see by this picture to you presented Death is our home life is but a delusion For see alas who is from you absented Absented nay I say for euer banished From such as were to dye for him contented Out of our sight in turne of hand is vanished Shepherd of shepherds whose well setled order Priuate with welth publike with quiet garnished While he did liue farre farre was all disorder Example more preuailing then direction Far was homestrife and far was foe from border His life a law his looke a full correction As in his health we healthfull were preserued So in his sicknesse grew our sure infection His death our death But ah my Muse hath swarued From such deepe plaint as should such woes descrie Which he of vs for euer hath deserued The stile of heauie hart can neuer flie So high as should make such a paine notorious Cease Muse therfore thy dart ô Death applie And farewell Prince whom goodnesse hath made glorious Many were readie to haue followed this course but the day was so wasted that onely this riming Sestine deliuered by one of great account among them could obtaine fauour to be heard FArewell ô Sunn Arcadias clâ—arest light Farewell ô pearl the poore man plenteous treasure Farewell ô golden staffe the weake mans might Farewell ô Ioy the ioyfulls onely pleasure Wisdome farewell the skillesse mans direction Farewell with thee farewell all our affection For what place now is lefte for our affection Now that of purest lampe is quench'd the light Which to our darkned mindes was best direction Now that the mine is lost of all our treasure Now death hath swallow'd vp our worldly pleasure We Orphans made void of all publique might Orphans in deede depriu'd of fathers might For he our father was in all affection In our well-doing placing all his pleasure Still studying how to vs to be a ligh As well he was in peace a safest treasure In warr his wit word was our direction Whence whence alas shall we seeke our direction When that we feare our hatefull neighbours might Who long haue gap't to get Arcadians treasure Shall we now finde a guide of such affection Who for our sakes will thinke all trauaile light And make his paine to keepe vs safe his pleasure No no for euer gone is all our pleasure For euer wandring from all good direction For euer blinded of our clearest light For euer lamed of our sured might For euer banish'd from well plac'd affection For euer robd of all our royall treasure Let teares for him therefore be all our treasure And in our wailfull naming him our pleasure Let hating of our selues be our affection And vnto death bend still our thoughts direction Let vs against our selues employ our might And putting out our eyes seeke we our light Farewell our light farewell our spoiled treasure Farewell our might farewell our daunted pleasure Farewell direction farewell all affection The night beganne to cast her darke Canopie ouer them and they euen wearie with their woes bended homewardes hoping by sleepe forgetting them selues to ease their present dolours When they were mett with a troupe of twentie horse the chiefe of which asking them for the Kinge and vnderstanding the hard newes thereupon stayed among them expecting the returne of a messenger whome with speede he dispatched to Philanax The ende of the fourth Booke THE FIFTH BOOKE OF THE COVNTESSE OF PEMBROKES ARCADIA THE daungerous diuision of mens mindes the ruinous renting of all estates had nowe brought Arcadia to feele the pangs of vttermost perill such convulsions neuer comming but that the life of that gouernment drawes neere his necessarye periode when to the honest and wife Philanax equally distracted betwixt desire of his maisters reuenge and care of the states establishment there came vnlooked for a Macedonian Gentleman who in short but pithye maner deliuered vnto him that the renowmed Euarchus King of Macedon purposing to haue visited his olde friend and confederate the King Basilius was nowe come within halfe a mile of the Lodges where hauing vnderstoode be certayne Shepheards the sodayne death of theyr Prince had sent vnto him of whose authoritye and faith he had good knowledge desiring him to aduertise him in what securitie hee might rest there for that night where willinglye hee woulde if safely hee might helpe to celebrate the funeralls of his auncient companion and alye adding hee neede not doubt since hee had brought but twentye in his companye hee woulde be so vnwise as to enter into any forcible attempte with so small force Philâ—nax hauing entertayned the Gentleman aswell as in the middest of so many tumultes hee coulde pausing awhile with himselfe considering howe
and crying vpon the name of Pyrocles nor seeing nor hearing cause of comfort what said he and shall Musidorus liue after Pyrocles destruction therewithall hee offered wilfully to cast himselfe againe into the sea a strange sight to the shepheards to whom it seemed that beefore being in apparance dead had yet saued his life and now comming to his life should be a cause to procure his death but they ranne vnto him and pulling him backe then to feeble for them by force stickled that vnnaturall fray I pray you said he honest men what such right haue you in me as not to suffer me to doe with my selfe what I list and what pollicie haue you to bestowe a benefite where it is counted an iniury They hearing him speake in Greeke which was their naturall language became the more tender hearted towards him and considering by his calling and looking that the losse of some deare friend was great cause of his sorrow tolde him they were poore men that were bound by course of humanitie to preuent so great a mischiefe and that they wisht him if opinion of some bodies perishing bred such desperate anguish in him that he should be coÌ„forted by his own proof who had lately escaped as apparant danger as any might be No no said he it is not for me to attend so high a blissefullnes but since you take care of me I pray you find meaÌ„s that some Bark may be prouided that will go out of the hauen that if it be possible wee maye find the bodie farre farre too precious a food for fishes and for the hire said he I haue within this casket of value sufficient to content them Claius presently went to a Fisherman and hauing agreeed with him and prouided some apparrell for the naked stranger he imbarked and the Shepheards with him and were no sooner gone beyond the mouth of the hauen but that some way into the sea they might discerne as it were a stayne of the waters colour and by times some sparkes and smoke mounting thereout But the young man no sooner saw it but that beating his brest he cried that there was the beginning of his ruine intreating them to bend their course as neere vnto it as they could telling how that smoake was but a small relique of a great fire which had driuen both him and his friend rather to committe themselues to the cold mercie of the sea than to abide the hote crueltie of the fire and that therefore though they both had abandoned the ship that he was if any where in that course to bee met withall They steared therefore as neere thether-ward as they cold but when they came so neere as their eies were ful masters of the obiect they saw a sight ful of piteous strangenes a ship or rather the carkas of the shippe or rather some few bones of the carkas hulling there part broken part burned part drowned death hauing vsed more than one dart to that destruction About it floted great store of very rich thinges and many chestes which might promise no lesse And amidst the precious thinges were a number of dead bodies which likewise did not only testifie both elements violence but that the chiefe violence was growen of humane inhumanitie for their bodies were full of grisly wounds and their bloud had as it were filled the wrinckles of the seas visage which it seemed the sea woulde not wash away that it might witnes it is not alwaies his fault when wee condemne his cruletie In summe a defeate where the conquered kept both field and spoile a shipwrack without storme or ill footing and a wast of fire in the midst of the water But a litle way off they saw the mast whoâ—e proude height now lay along like a widdow hauing lost her make of whom she held her honor but vpon the mast they saw a yong man at least if hee were a man bearing shew of about 18. yeares of age who sate as on horseback hauing nothing vpon him but his shirt which beeing wrought with blew silke and golde had a kinde of resemblance to the sea on which the sun then neare his Westerne home did shote some of his beames His haire which the young men of Greece vsed to weare very long was stirred vp and downe with the wind which seemed to haue a sporte to play with it as the sea had to kisse his feet himselfe full of admirable beautie set foorth by the strangenes both of his seate and gesture for holding his head vp full of vnmoued maiestie he held a sworde aloft with his faire arme which often he waued about his crowne as though he would threaten the world in that extremitie But the fishermen when they came so neere him that it was time to throwe out a rope by which hold they might draw him their simplicity bred such amasement and their amasement such superstition that assuredly thinking it was some God begotten betweene Neptune and Venus that had made all this terrible slaughter as they went vnder sayle by him held vp their hands and made their prayers Which when Musidorus saw though he were almost as much rauished with ioy as they with astonishment he lept to the Mariner and tooke the corde out of his hande and saying doest thou liue and arte well who answered thou canst tell best since most of my well beyng standes in thee threwe it out but alreadie the shippe was past beyond Pyrocles and therefore Musidorus could do no more but perswade the Mariners to cast about againe assuring them that hee was but a man although of most diuine excellencies and promising great rewardes for their paine And now they were alreadie come vpon the staies when one of the saylers discried a Galley which came with sayles and oares directlie in the chase of them and streight perceaued it was a wel knowne Pirate who hunted not only for goodes but for bodies of men which he imployed eyther to be his Galley slaues or to sell at the best market Which when the Maister vnderstoode he commaunded forthwith to set on al the canuasse they could and flie homeward leauing in that sort poore Pyrocles so neere to be reskewed But what did not Musidorus saye what did hee not offer to perswade them to venture the fight But feare staÌ„ding at the gates of their eares put backe all perswasions so that he had nothing wherewith to accompanie Pyrocles but his eyes nor to succour him but his wishes Therefore praying for him and casting a long looke that way he saw the Galley leaue the pursuite of them and turne to take vp the spoiles of the other wracke and lastly he might well see them lift vp the yong man and alas saide hee to himselfe deere Pyrocles shall that bodie of thine be enchained shal those victorious haÌ„ds of thine be coÌ„maunded to base offices shal vertue becoÌ„e a slaue to those that be slaues to viciousnes Alas better had it bene thou hadst ended nobly thy noble
daies what death is so euil as vnworthy seruitude But that opinion soone ceased when he sawe the gallie setting vpon an other shippe which held long and strong fight with her for then he began a fresh to feare the life of his friende and to wish well to the Pirates whome before he hated least in their ruyne he might perish But the fishermen made such speed into the hauen that they absented his eyes from beholding the issue where being entred he could procure neither them nor any other as then to put themselues into the sea so that being as ful of sorrow for beyng vnable to doe any thing as voide of counsel how to doe anything besides that sicknesse grew something vpon him the honest shepheards Strephon and Claius who being themselues true friends did the more perfectly iudge the iustnesse of his sorrowe aduise him that he should mitigate somwhat of his woe since he had gotten an amendment in fortune being come from assured persuasion of his death to haue no cause to dispaire of his life as one that had lamented the death of his sheepe should after know they were but strayed would receiue pleasure though readily he knew not where to finde them Now sir saide they thus for our selues it is We are in profession but shepheards and in this countrie of Laconia little better then straungers and therefore neither in skill nor abilitie of power greatly to stead you But what wee can present vnto you is this Arcadia of which countrie we are is but a little way hence and euen vpon the next confines there dwelleth a Gentleman by name Kalander who vouchsafeth much fauour vnto vs A man who for his hospitalitie is so much haunted that no newes sturre but comes to his eares for his vpright dealing so beloued of his neighbours that he hath many euer readie to doe him their vttermost seruice and by the great good will our Prince beares him may soone obtaine the vse of his name and credit which hath a principall swaie not onely in his owne Arcadia but in all these countries of Peloponnesus which is worth all all these things giue him not so much power as his nature giues him will to benefit so that it seemes no Musicke is sweete to his eare as deserued thanks To him we wil bring you and there you may recouer againe your health without which you cannot bee able to make any diligent search for your friend and therefore you must labour for it Besides we are sure the comfort of curtesie and ease of wise counsell shall not be wanting Musidorus who besides he wâ—s meerly vnacquainted in the countrie had his wits astonished with sorrow gaue easie consent to that from which hee savve no reason to disagree and therefore defraying the Mariners with a ring bestovved vpon them they tooke their iourney together through Laconia Claius and Strephon by course carying his chest for him Musidorus only bearing in his countenance euident markes of a sorovvful-mind supported vvith a vveake bodie vvhich they perceiuing and knovving that the violence of sorovv is not at the first to be striuen vvithall being like a mighty beast soner tamed vvith follovving than ouerthrovven by vvithstanding they gaue vvay vnto it for that day and the next neuer troubling him either vvith asking questions or finding fault vvith his melancholie but rather fitting to his dolor dolorous discourses of their ovvne and other folks misfortunes Which speeches though they had not a liuely entraÌ„ce to his sences shut vp in sorow yet like one halfe a sleepe he tooke hold of much of the matters spoken vnto him so as a man may say ere sorow was a wareâ— they made his thoughts beare away somthing els besid his own sorow which wrought so in him that at leÌ„gth he grew content to marke their speeches then to maruell at such wit in shepheardes after to like their company and lastly to vouchsafe conference so that the third day after in the time that the morning did strow roses and violets in the heauenly floore against the comming of the Sun the nightingales striuing one with the other which coulde in most dainty variety recount their wrong caused sorow made them put of their sleep and rising from vnder a tree which that night had bine their pauilion they went on their iorney which by and by welcomed Musidorus eyes wearied with the wasted soile of Laconia with delightfull prospects There were hilles which garnished their proud heights with stately trees humble valleis whose base estate seemed comforted with refreshing of siluer riuers medowes enameld with all sortes of eypleasing floures thickets which being lined with most pleasant shade were witnessed so too by the cheerefull disposition of many wel-tuned birds ech pasture stored with sheep feeding with sober security while the prety lambes with bleting oratory craued the dams comfort here a shepheards boy piping as though he should neuer be olde there a yong shepherdesse knitting and withall singing and it seemed that her voice comforted her hands to worke and her hands kept time to her voices musick As for the houses of the country for many houses came vnder their eye they were all scattered no two being one by th' other and yet not so far off as that it barred mutuall succour a shew as it were of an accompanable solitarines of a ciuil wildnes I pray you said Musidorus then first vnsealing his long silent lips what countreyes be these we passe through which are so diuers in shewe the one wanting no store th' other hauing no store but of want The country answered Claius where you were cast a shore and now are past through is Laconia not so poore by the barrennes of the soyle though in it selfe not passing fertill as by a ciuill warre which being these two yeares within the bowels of that estate betweene the gentlemen and the peasants by them named Helots hath in this sorte as it were disfigured the face of nature and made it so vnhospitall as now you haue founde it the townes neither of the one side nor the other willingly opening their gates to strangers nor strangers willingly entring for feare of being mistaken But this countrie where now you set your foot is Arcadia euen hard by is the house of Kalander whether we lead you this country being thus decked with peace the child of peace good husbandrie These houses you see so scattered are of men as we two are that liue vpon the commoditie of their sheepe and therefore in the diuision of the Arcadian estate are termed shepheards a happie people wanting litle because they desire not much What cause then saide Musidorus made you venter to leaue this sweet life and put your selfe in yonder vnpleasant and dangerous realme Guarded with pouertie answered Strephon and guided with loue But now said Claius since it hath pleased you to aske any thing of vs whose basenes is such as the very knowledge is darkenes geue vs leaue
refuse not misery purchased by mine owne merite Hard I must needes saye although till now I neuer thought I should haue had cause to saye is the destinie of womankinde the tryall of whose vertue must stande vpon the louing of them that employe all theyr industrie not to be beloued If Zelmanes young yeares had not had so much grauitie hidden vnder a youthfull face as your graye heares haue bene but the visar of vnfitting youthfulnes your vicious minde had brought some fruites of repentance and Gynaecia might then haue bene with much more right so basely despised Basilius that was more ashamed to see himselfe so ouertaken then Vulcan was when with much cunning hee proued himselfe a Cuckolde beganne to make certayne extrauagant excuses but the matter in it selfe hardly brooking any purgacion with the suddainnes of the time which barred any good conioyned inuention made him sometimes alledge one thing to which by and by he would bring in a contrarye one time with flat denyall another time with mitigating the fault now braue then humble vse such a stammering defensiue that Gynaecia the violence of whose sore in deede ranne another waye was content thus to fasten vp the last stitch of her anger Well well my Lorde sayde she it shall well become you so to gouerne your selfe as you may be fit rather to direct me then to be iudged of me and rather to be a wise maister of me then an vnskilfull pleader before me Remember the wrong you haue done is not onely to me but to your children whome you had of mee to your countrey when they shall finde they are commaunded by him that can not commaund his owne vndecent appetites lastly to your selfe since with these paynes you do but build vp a house of shame to dwell in if from those moueable goods of nature wherewith in my fyrst youth my royall parents bestowed me vppon you bearing you children and encrease of yeares haue withdrawen me consider I pray you that as you are cause of the one so in the other time hath not left to worke his neuer-fayling effectes in you Truly truly Sir very vntimely are these fyres in you it is time for vs both to let reason enioye his due soueraigntie Let vs not plant anewe those weedes which by natures course are content to fade Basilius that would rather then his life the matter had bene ended the best rethorike he had was flat demanding pardon of her swearing it was the very force of Apollos destenye which had caryed him thus from his owne bias but that nowe like as farre trauellers were taught to loue their owne countrie he had such a lesson without booke of affection vnto her as he would repay the debt of this error with the interest of a great deale more true honour then euer before he had done her neyther am I to geue pardon to you my Lord sayd she nor you to beare honour to me I haue taken this boldnes for the vnfayned loue I owe vnto you to deliuer my sorrowe vnto you much more for the care I haue of your well doing then for any other selfe fancie For well I knowe that by your good estate my life is mayntayned neyther if I would can I separate my selfe from your fortune For my parte therefore I clayme nothing but that which may be safest for your selfe my life will honor and what soeuer else shall be but a shadow of that bodie How much Basilius owne shame had found him culpable and had alreadie euen in soule read his owne condemnacion so much did this vnexpected mildnes of Gynaecia captiue his harte vnto her which otherwise perchaunce would haue growne to a desperat carelesnes Therefore embracing her and confessing that her vertue shined in his vice he did euen with a true resolued minde vowe vnto her that as long as he vnworthie of her did liue she should be the furthest and onlie limit of his affection He thanked the destenies that had wrought her honour out of his shame and that had made his owne striuing to goe amisse to be the best meane euer after to hold him in the right pathe Thus reconciled to Basilius great contentacion who began something to marke himselfe in his owne doings his hard hap guided his eye to the cuppe of golde wherein Gynaecia had put the lickourment for Zelmane and hauing fayled of that guest was now carrying it home agayne But he whome perchaunce sorrowe perchaunce some long disaccustomed paynes had made extremely thirstie tooke it out of her handes although she directly tolde him both of whome she had it what the effect of it was and the little proofe she had seene thereof hiding nothing from him but that she ment to minister it to another pacient But the Duke whose belly had no eares and much drouthe kept from the desiring a taster finding it not vnpleasant to his pallate dranke it almost off leauing very little to couer the cuppes bottome But within a while that from his stomacke the drincke had deliuered to his principall vaynes his noysome vapours first with a painefull stretching and forced yawning then with a darke yellownes dyeng his skinne and a colde deadlie sweate principally about his temples his bodie by naturall course longing to deliuer his heauie burden to his earthly damme wanting force in his knees which vtterly abandoned him with heauie fall gaue some proofe whether the operation of that vnknowne potion tended For with pang-like grones and gastly turning of his eyes immediatlie all his limmes stiffened and his eyes fixed he hauing had time to declare his case only in these wordes O Gynaecia I dye Haue care of what or how much further he would haue spoken no man can tell For Gynaecia hauing well perceyued the changing of his cullour and those other euill signes yet had not looked for such a sodaine ouerthrowe but rather had bethought her selfe what was best for him when she sodainely sawe the matter come to that periode comming to him and neyther with any cryes getting a worde of him nor with any other possible meanes able to bring any liuing action from him the height of all ouglie sorrowes did so horrible appeare before her amazed minde that at the first it did not only distract all power of speech from her but almost wit to consider remayning as it were quicke buried in a graue of miseries Her paynefull memorie had streight filled her with the true shapes of all the fore-past mischiefes her reason began to crye out against the filthye rebellion of sinfull sense and to teare it selfe with anguish for hauing made so weake resistance her conscience a terrible witnes of the inwarde wickednes still nourishing this debatefull fyre her complaynte nowe not hauing an ende to be directed vnto something to disburden sorrowe but a necessary downefall of inwarde wretchednes She sawe the rigour of the lawes was like to lay a shamefull death vpon her which being for that action vndeserued made it the more