comming she marched couragiously toward thē willing them to execute their office With which boldnes the souldiers were all astonished sauing certaine of the friends of those whom she had slain before which stabbed her thorow the body whereof she presently died Yet this manly courage is to be noted in her that after she felt the wound to be mortall and that she fainted ready to yeeld vp her life she nesled her garmentes about her body plucking downe her neather skirts to her féete hauing a womāly care in all respects least that by striuing with life and death she might showe or vncouer the vndecent parts of her bodie Thus dyed the mightiest Princesse vnder the heauens for a iust reuenge of her former cruelties and merciles murders she was daughter to Neoptolome King of Epyre sister to Alexander then King of Epyre wife to Philip King of Macedon mother to Alexander the great and yet for all these high and mightie alliances the liuing God would not suffer her to scape vnpunished but caused such measure to be giuē to her which she before had meated to other In like sort Agrippina daughter to the noble Germanicus first being maried to Domitius had by him Nero and afterward was married to Claudius whom she poysoned with his sonne Britannicus to y e end she might make her first sonne Nero Emperor which indéede came accordingly to passe but now her sonne Nero being Emperour possessing the crowne by meanes of his mothers bloudie act whether it were that the liuing God would not suffer her to scape vnpunished or the wicked inclination of Nero but howsoeuer the case stood she receiued like reward for her son caused her to be most cruelly tormented commanding her wombe to be opened cut vp that he might sée the place wherein he lay and in the meane time while she was suffering such miserable torture he gaue so little regard to the wofull mournings pitifull cries of his naturall mother that he played on a cistern y e destruction of Troy and sung most pleasantly to his instrument Notwithstanding although he was ordeyned to scourge and plague his mother for the aforesaid horrible fact yet scaped not hee vnreuenged for so vile a déede For when he had a time raigned in Rome persecuting the guilties and innocent the Romanes at last detesting his bloudie disposition séeing y t his whole delight was in tormenting his natiue Country men began so deadly to hate him for his crueltie that by the whole consent of the Romanes the Senate decréed this sharpe sentence against him Vt more maiorum collo in furcā coniecto virgis adnecem caederetur his neck being fastned in a yoke or forke after the vilest order which was a most monstrous reproach and seruile slauerie amongst the Romanes should be beaten to death with rods But Nero hauing intelligence of their decrée fled in the midle of the night out of the citie taking with him not past one or two of his lewd cōpanions who also perished with him for feare of the Romans Thus being scaped from the punishment which was appointed for him he now determined to die a desperate death requiring one of his friēds which was with him to stab him through with his sword that he might ende his miserie Who when he had denied his sute as a thing vniust Nero cried out saying Itanè nec amicum habeo nec inimicum dedecorosé vixi turpius periam Surely neither haue I friend nor enemie meaning no friend in the Citie to defend his cause nor enemie nowe with him to ende his life I haue liued vilely I will perish as filthely and therewithall thrust himselfe through and so died Thus miserably ended Domitius Nero after hee had reuenged the cruell murther which his Mother committted and in the ende himselfe was driuen to the same shoare and forced to arriue at the same Port of miserable Destinie to be cut off with vntimely death for his most vile slaughters and cruelties Also Aristobulus sonne to Hircanus vnnaturally committed to prison his mother and his brother Antigonus and after most cruelly slew his said brother in prison for which grieuous offence God so strake him that all his bowells rent in his belly and hee vomited vp all the bloud in his bodie and so most pitifully he dyed in recompence of his former crueltie In like manner Antiochus Illustris sonne of the great Antiochus did also imbrew his hands in the bloud of his friends For giuing his sister in marriage to Ptolomaeus King of Aegypt and vnder pretence of familiaritie came to visite his brother in lawe vnder the coulour of alliance and that he might by treacherous meanes take from him the Kingdome of Aegipt and finding him sitting at supper saluted him with his sword which presently he thrust through his sides thus traiterously he slewe his brother Ptolome and ceazed on all Aegipt to his owne vse And after hée had done manie other cruelties at last hee was striken with a most horrible sicknesse that his bodie stanke and his flesh was so corrupt and putrified that no bodie could abide the sauour therof liuing wormes créeping and scrauling out of his bodie insomuch that in his great extremitie hee was forsaken of all his friends and seruants and so died as a iust recompence for his villanie It is farther well knowen that Archelaus King of Macedonia was murthered by the hands of Cratenas his Paramour who sore thirsted after his said kingdome which shamefull act beeing committed and Cratenas placed in the regall Throne according to his long desire raigned King not past thrée or foure dayes but was himselfe slaine in semblable manner by other mens meanes whereunto this saying may be well applyed Qui struit insidias alijs sibi damna dat ipse Who seeketh other men to insnare Nets for himselfe he doth prepare So that this man possessed his princely seate but a short space which he had purchased by wilfull murder I trust it is very well knowen also to the English Nation what cruell murders and miserable slaughters were committed by King Richard the third brother to Edward the fourth and sonne to the Duke of Yorke for that the Chronicles doo make mention thereof at large First bringing his owne brother the Duke of Clarence to vntimely death then shewing his tyrannie on the Barons and Nobles of the Land and after that his brother Edward the fourth died he miserably smoothered the two sonnes of his said brother Edward which were committed to his tuition and gouernment not sparing the néerest of his kinne but imbrewing himselfe in their bloud to the ende he himselfe might possesse the Crowne and Diadem of the Realme which in deede consequently came to passe But were it possible that such pitifull murders and execrable slaughters as he committed both in slaying of the Nobles of the Land and also in the deprauing of his swéete Nephewes of life and Kingdome should scape vnreuenged No truly it
chosen But surely the vaine babling of the prating Poets in this cause is vtterly to be condemned for vnder the colour that all women are euill they goe about to hide and cloake the foolish follie of mad doting men making women a veile or shadow to hide and couer the doting fondnes of vnsatiable men Indeede the olde prouerbe is Ignis mare mulier tria sunt mala That sire the sea and a woman are three euils Truely a strong reason then may it like wise be said that men are euill for that one man hath killed another and surely by this reason the former three are also euil For if a man will cast himselfe into the fier no doubt but that he shal burne or into the sea where he may be drowned or els into the calamities of such a mariage or otherwise ouer fondly to dote which he well knew before would purchase his trouble and vexation But my good friend my purpose is not to exclaime on or blame faultlesse women who cannot bridle the fond affection of their importunate louers wherefore I will somewhat more amply speake of fonde and doting loue which is as well in the one as in the other and what inconuenience doth consequently follow their doting folly Semiramis being the most amiable Lady of the world by reason of her surpassing beautie was sent for into Assiria to the king of that region that he might satisfie himselfe with the sight of her péerles pulchritude before whose presence she came according to the tenor of his message The king had no sooner cast his wanton eye vpon her passing beauty but was foorthwith inflamed with the fire of affection towards her then after certaine circumstances ouerpassed she required of the doting king a rich reward namely a robe of estate the gouernment of Assiria for fiue dayes continuance and the absolute authoritie in all thinges that were done in the kingdome Which petition of Semiramis was granted by the king no deniall made to the contrary In conclusion when things without exception were in the gripes of her aspiring minde she commanded the fonde king to be slaine whereby he was dispossessed of his dominion and she presently thereupon enioyed the scepter and crowne imperiall ouer all Assiria Did not Candaulus king of Sardis dote in foolish and fonde loue ouer his wife insomuch that he thought her the fayrest creature in the worlde yet not content to satisfie himselfe with her beautie but in fond and doting sort must needes shewe his wife naked to his frend to make him partaker of her surpassing beautie and peereles person and therfore he called his frēd Giges to his chamber and hid him secretely against his wife should come to bed but his frend Giges disswading him from his folly notwithstanding Candaulus would haue no nay in his importunate suite but that his frend should both know see his his priuie benefite so that he was constrayned to obey his fonde request Now when the wife of Candaulus perceiued herself so betrayed by the inuention of her husband for Giges incontinētly discloased himselfe she was mightely abashed wonderfully ashamed for in that countrey it was counted a most wonderfull dishonesty and reproach that a woman should be seene naked of any man sauing of her husband yet for all that she dissēbled the matter for a time meaning in the end to take sharp reuenge on her husband for the great villany he had offered her At the last she called Giges to her chamber who before had séene her naked to the end to haue slaine him threatening him that vnlesse he would presently reuenge the wrong and great abuse which her husband had offered her in his presence which he consequentlie consented vnto for the sauegard of his life with firme oathes solemne vowes which was that he should kil the king her husband and take her to wife with the kingdome hoping that hee would be content to possesse so good a benefite and not to make any other priuie or partaker of that which hee best esteemed Thus whether it were for the sauegard of his life which he stood in perill to lose or for the coueting of so beautifull a Queene large a kingdome which now was offered him it resteth doubtfull but he foorthwith executed the Queenes pleasure on his doting master which happened through his owne fonde follie What inconueniēce also hapned to Artaxerxes king of Persia by such foolish folly in doting ouer his sonne so fondly y t he must make him his master in his life time For being drownd in such fond affection toward his sonne Darius not content himselfe with his scepter and kingdome which he quietly possessed hee presently aduanced him to taste the secretnes and sweete of his kingdome not satisfieng himselfe to be a commander ouer his people but would be a seruant and be commanded by his sonne so it hapned to him as he deserued for this princox his sonne being established in the kingdome by his doting father became at the last so lordly ouer his foolish father that hee woulde commaund him in all causes as his duetifull and obedient subiect it chanced that his father Artaxerxes had married the concubine which he before had taken in his warres who at that time was péerelesse in beautie Now Darius being in possession of his fathers kingdome by vertue of his authoritie he called his father before his presence as a common subiect saying Father as you haue put the kingdome into my hand and made me absolute King thereof so whosoeuer this kingdome containeth is also my subiect and vnder my authoritie therfore sir my pleasure is that you deliuer and yéelde into my handes your wife which was the concubine for she is faire in my sight and therefore I greatly desire to haue her and by vertue of my authoritie I straightly commaund no resistance to the contrarie But Artaxerxes although he had made his sonne King knew that hee was his father wherefore hee contrary to his sonnes minde detained Aspasia his newe married wife which deniall caused his sonne Darius to conspire the death of his resisting father because as he thought hee was not absolute King to commaund as after the death of his father hee should be and also did associate in this his vnnaturall confederacie fifty brothers which were begotten by his owne father Artaxerxes by diuers concubines But this doting King as it chanced although he had made himselfe a subiect to his prowd sonne yet by good helpe of his nobles he detected the cause and found out the treason And in the same day that Darius made account to accomplish his wicked enterprise he was himselfe and all the rest of the confederates taken and fell into the same snare that they had prepared for their aged father for Artaxerxes put both them their wiues and children to the sworde that none of that wicked race should remaine aliue the aged King for verie griefe that he had conceiued
most excellent things in the worlde that euer were séene or heard of Now when all these ordinances of Alexander were red by Perdicas heard by the Macedonian Princes although they loued their master maruellously yet when they saw his enterprices to be such and of so great charge they all agreed with one consent that nothing should be done therin departing euery man to his Prouince whereunto he was appoynted by the gouernor Perdicas Shortly after they were all departed and seperated one from another Perdicas thought good hauing so fit oportunity to reuenge himselfe on those that first hindered him from being king And for because that Meleager now prince of Lydia whē he was sent ambassador to the footmē did earnestly stād against his desire altogether preuented his intent therefore Perdicas in reuenge first of all other most cruelly slew him with 30. of the most principall souldiers that were against his proceedings The other princes soon had intelligence of the things Perdicas had done fearing he would shew the like crueltie on them hearing also what their master Alexander had said on his deathbed which was that his kingdomes possessions should be possessed of the most worthy wherfore euery of them enioying so large prouinces and territories thought themselues as worthy personages as either Aride the king or Perdicas his gouernor insomuch that the most part of them would be subiect to neither but seniorized their Prouinces to their owne vses chalenging the name and title of kings deuiding themselues taking part one against the other euery one striuing who should bee worthiest Which words of Alexander together with their stately pride was the originall cause that the whole number of Princes and captaines successors to Alexander perished and were vtterly destroyed for they earnestly coueted each others kingdome raising among themselues bloudy war and cruell strife snatching after the most worthy place not forcing of cruell murthers or lamētable slaughters but with eger minds būted after y e goods life of ech other vntil they had vtterly rooted out consumed themselues for Perdicas hauing slaine Meleager and other of his fellow seruitors in Alexanders warres toke vpō him to go into Egypt to dispossesse Ptolome whom before he had placed in that Prouince But there because he behaued himselfe so proudly dismissing his captains vpon small occasions at his pleasure his souldiers set vpon him most fiercely slew him the greatest part of his army being gone to Ptolome King Philip Euridice his wife wer most cruelly murthered by Olympias Alexanders mother Craterus cōming against Eumenes in opē battail was by him slaine Eumenes also was slain in fight by Antigonus Antigonus likewise put to death Python and gaue his prouince to another Antigonus going to batel against Antioch the sonne of Seleucus was himselfe slain by default of his sonne Demetrius It was credebly reported that the night before Antigonus was slaine his son Demetrius dreamed that Alexander who before was dead came stood before him with his sword drawne saying I wil take part with thy enemies against thy father and thee in the morning also when Antigonus aranged his phalange or square battell of footmen comming foorth of his Tent to fight he stumbled and sell downe flat to the groūd and after he was lifted vp againe holding vp his hands to heauen he said I know hard fortune and euill successe drawethny but I pray the immortall Gods rather suffer me to be slaine in this battel than shamefully before mine enemie to flie Also old Antipater falling sick on a surfet which he had takē in these warres deceased and left the kingdome of Macedon to Polispercon his frend and not to Cassander his owne sonne which also caused great controuersie to arise betwixt his sonne Cassander and his friend Polispercon But in the end Cassander expelled Polispercon his fathers kingdome Not long after he himselfe came to vntimely death leauing behind him two sonnes the eldest hight Alexander the other Antipater which Antipater after he had slaine his owne mother sought meanes to driue his brother Alexander out of Macedon For which cause Alexander sent for ayde to king Pirrhus in Cyprus to Demetrius Antigone his sonne in Peloponnesus howbeit Demetrius being so occupied about the estate and affaires of Pelopōnesus whē the Ambassadors of Alexander came that hee coulde by no means help him In the mean time Pirrhus with a great armie came thether and in recompence of his ayde charge took possession of so large a peece of Macedon laying it to his owne countrey of Epyre that Alexander greatly dreaded him And while he abode in this feare he was aduertised that Demetrius was with his whole power comming to his ayde Wherupon he considering the authoritie great renowne of Demetrius and also the worthines of his déedes for which causes he was highly honoured through the whole world did now more than before feare his estate if he entered his realm wherfore he foorthwith went to méet him whom at their first méeting he right courteously and honorably entreated greatly thanking him for his courtesie and trauell in that he would leaue his own affaires of great importance and with so mightie an army come to his ayde further telling him that he already had wel quieted and established his estate so that he should not néede any further to trauell Neuertheles he thought himselfe so much bounde as if he had come at his first sending for or that all things had béen by his meanes quieted To these words Demetrius answered that he was right glad of his quietnes and that he had now no néed of his helpe besides many other louing and gentle words which gréeting ended either of thē for that night returned into his tent During which time there arose such matters betwixt thē that the one greatly suspected the other for as Demetrius was bid to supper with Alexander he was willed to take heede to himselfe for Alexander had practised by treason to slay him notwithstanding he by no mean shewed any countenance of mistrust but meant to go to the banquet to whose lodging Alexander was comming to bring him on his way But Demetrius diuersly detracted the time went a soft easie pace to y e ende his souldiers might haue leisure to arme them and cōmāded his garde being a greater number than Alexanders to enter with him also to waite neer his person but when Alexanders souldiers saw themselues the weaker part they durst not attempt it at that time And after supper because Demetrius would haue some honest cause to depart he fayned he was some what ill in his body therfore foorthwith took leaue of Alexander went thence The next day Demetrius feined that he had receiued letters out of his countrey of great importance so that he with his army must presently return into Peloponnese frō whēce he came praying Alexander to haue him excused offering him
help whē he néeded desiring to vse him as one in whō he might repose his trust Now was Alexāder glad that of his own accord he would return and because he would better let him vnderstande some signe of good wil harty loue he accōpanied him into Thessaly but after they were arriued in the Citie of Larissa they a fresh began to practise new treason one against another and first Alexander to put Demetrius quite out of suspition either without armour or weapon or anie guard to attend on his person would oft visite him hoping thereby to make him doo the like but he was in his so thinking greatly deceiued for as Alexander one night came to supper to Demetrius without guard according to his accustomed wont and that they wer in the chiefe of their supper Demetrius sodainly arose from the table wherat Alexander was sore abashed insomuch that hee arose also followed him to the hall doore but so soone as Demetrius was without he gaue signe and token to his souldiors who incontinently fell vppon Alexander and slew him and certaine of his men which would haue defended him among whom a certain fellowe before he was killed said Demetrius hath preuented vs but a day onely Now was Demetrius King of Macedon and the Macedonians right glad of their change but not long after this Demetrius was taken prisoner by Seleuchus in battaile committed to prison where he continued vntill he died Then was the great fight betwixt Seleucus and Lysimachus which was the verie last battaile that was fought betwixt the successors of Alexander in which conflict Lysimachus was slaine Seleucus victor But Seleucus inioyed his victorie not long for he was shortly after slaine by Ptolome whose sister Lysimachus had married Also Olympias mother to Alexander the Great when she had slaine King Philip and his wife Euridice then to despite Cassander she put to death an 100. noble men of Macedon at one time also she made Nicanor brother to Cassander to be slaine and defaced the tombe and monument of Iole his other Brother to reuenge the death of Alexander her sonne as she said because it was suspected that he had poysoned him in giuing him drinke About the same time when Ptolome Lord of the Isle of Cypres vnderstood that Nicocles King of Paphos had secretly allied with Antigone hee sent two of his chiefe friends to wit Argey and Calicrate into Cypres charging them to kill the said Nicocles fearing that if he should leaue him vnpunished the rest would not sticke to doo the like When these messengers were arriued in Cypres hauing with them the souldiors of Ptolome they incompassed the house of Nicocles signifying to him their charge from Ptolome therefore they exhorted him to kill himselfe who from the beginning vsed manie words in the excusing of the fact but when hee did sée there was no account made of his tale hee at the last slewe himselfe and after that Axithia his wife vnderstood of his death she first slew two yong maides her daughters whom she had by him to the end they shuld not come into the hands of her husbands enemies and after exhorted Nicocles brothers wiues willingly to die with her which indéed they did In this sort also was the pallaice royall of Paphos ful of murders and wilfull slaughters and after in manner of a tragedie burnt for immediately after the brothers wiues of Nicocles were dead they shut vp the dores of the houses and set them on fire and foorthwith they that then liued in the pallaice killed themselues and so finished that lamētable murder In the same season while these things were done in Cypres great controuersie arose in the Countrey of Pontus after the death of Parisade sometime King of Bosphorus betwixt Satyre Eumele and Pritame Parisade his sonnes for the succession of the said Realme insomuch that the brothers made sharpe warre one against the other So it fortuned that Satyre and Pritame were both slaine in that warre wherefore the other Brother Eumele to assure himselfe of the Realme caused all the wiues children and friends of Pritame and Satyre his brethren to be slaine not long after was himselfe cruelly slaine by misfortune Now to returne to Alexander the Great and his line it was reported and partly beléeued that he himselfe consented with Olympias his mother to the death and murder of Philip his father for which gréeuous offence he himselfe with his whole line and stocke was punished accordingly For first it is to be considered that olde Antipater who in Alexanders life was his Lieutenant and after his death first had the Satrape of Macedon bestowed on him by Perdicas the Gouernour Which Antipater and Olympias could neuer agrée but still were at contention and strife both in the life time of her sonne Alexander and also after his death insomuch that when Alexander was comming from the conquest of the world making his abode in Babylon for a time and after minding to returne home into Macedon to visit his mother Olympias Antipater being then Lieutenant of Macedon considered with himselfe that if in case Alexander shuld return home that then his mother Olympias would make gréeuous complaints against him which thing he so much feared that he caused poyson to be giuen to Alexander at Babylon whereof hee presently died Thus when Alexander was dead and olde Antipater deceased there grew a new grudge and quarrell betwixt Olympias and Cassander sonne to Antipater insomuch that he tooke Olympias prisoner and in the end caused her to be slaine Aslo hee slewe Alexander sonne of Alexander the Great and Roxana his mother afterward he put to death Hercules the other sonne of Alexander with Arsinne his mother yet notwithstanding Cassander espoused Thessalonica one of the Sisters of Alexander the great who after the death of Cassander was also slaine by her own sonne Antipater Cleopatra also the other Sister of Alexander was also slaine by the commaundement of Antigonus After this sort was the whole line of Alexander for all his mightie conquests gained with lamentable slaughters and wonderfull effusion of bloud vtterly extinguished by Antipater and his Successours Also what gained his Successors by the large Kingdomes and possessions hee left For they were al by enuie depriued both of life and lands in miserable sort Insomuch that their remained not one that could iustly vaunt and brag of his happie successe but had rather good cause to mourne bewaile the cruel murders manifold slaughters and wastfull ruines both of themselues their wiues children and friends hauing also right good cause to wish that Alexander had neuer béen borne or els that he had neuer conquered so great a part of the world to leaue the possession therof to them wherby they were all driuen to vntimely death with the murder of infinite thousands of their people so that the whole whole world did lament and grieue at their
there was on either side in lamentable sort That Phrygia soile did flowe with blood the world can giue report When Phrygia thus was ouer-run by Grecians ouer stout Vnto the Troyan walls they marchde and compast it about Where Pryam held his stately court not passing of their spight Nor fearing future hap at all but still maintained fight Where from the top of stately walls we dayly might beholde Right neere our sight the slaughters great of Troyan youth full bolde And Greekes likewise on euery side the Troyans fierce did daunt They lay on heapes wherefore as yet they iustly could not vaunt Nor brag for that their mighty peeres in bloodie broile were slaine Wherefore to end the warre begun to sue did not disdaine To haue faire Helen backe againe for whom this warre begunne And eke to boote they offer made yong Polidore my sonne Whom Polymnestor King of Thrace had to the Greeks betrayde When Pryam first had placed him there in hope of better ayde For when we knew the Greekes did minde to make sharpe warre with Troy To Polymnestor King of Thrace we sent our yongest boy A mighty masse and treasure great with this our sonne we sent In hope to keepe him free from warre and from the Greekes intent But then the Thracian King betrayde O vile disloyall wretch The harmelesse lad vnto the Greekes this was the traitours fetch To holde the coyne which then he had and so to yeelde the childe Vnto the Greekes for lucres sake lo thus we were beguilde Which boy the Grecians brought to Troy and made request againe That Helen Menelaus wife in Troy might not remaine But be restorde then Polidore from their hands should be free And we our sonne might haue againe and warre should ended bee But if in case that we denied and Helen did detaine Then Polidore for brothers fault should presently be slaine Olde Pryamus would not consent that Helen backe should goe But helde perforce the wanton wench in spite of proudest foe And willd them for to doo their worst for Helen meant to bide Wherefore he would not yeeld her vp what euer might be tide It well was knowne vnto the Greekes that Pryam bade her chuse To stay in Troy or goe to Greece which she did flat refuse And forbecause she willing was with Paris to be still He would by no meanes send her backe against her owne good will Then sent he word to Grecian campe if that they had decreed His sonne should die his other sonnes should make them rue the deede And that the fieldes of Troy should flowe with gorie blood full fast Vntill the Grecians did repent their enterprised hast But now alas began my woe my sorrowe did increase For neuer day from this time foorth mine eies from teares did cease O Polidore my yongest boy sweete Polidore my sonne From Troyan walles I did behold how fast the Grecians run To doe thee wrong my harmelesse childe and mightie stones did bring Thicke thronging fast with furie great at Polidore they sling Who sure was tyed at fastned stake which I from Troyan wall Might well beholde how bouncing blowes did make my childe to sprall Not ceasing till my sonne were slaine nor then but still did smight The brused bones of my sweet boy within his mothers sight O hellish plague O torture vile me thinke I see it still How Grecians raging mad did strike the harmelesse soule to kill With wringing hands I looked on yet loath to see him die I turnd my backe and strait againe I coulde not chuse but prie For this my sonne who bleeding lay so bobde with waightie stones The flesh with blowes was mangled so eche man might see the bones Yet would mine eies haue passage still to this his carkasse dead Till that my liuing sonnes from top of Troyan wals had lead Their mother downe whose folding feete her body could not stay Which they perceiued so that from thence me wretch they did conuay To Grecian campe a messenger we did commaund to trudge To craue the body of my sonne which thing they did not grudge But sent the martyrde corps to Troy as custome did require They said not nay but graunted straight when Priam did desire And also did a present send to breede me further woe The bloudy stones that kild my sonne on me they did bestowe VVhose bloud and braines in vgly sort about the stones was seen A homely present to be sent to me most wretched Queen Then shrinde we vp with weeping teares our sonne so vilely slaine And put the stones in tombe with him for euer to remaine His brothers mad with this mischaunce for battell strong prouide And to reuenge their brother slaine to Grecian Campes they hide VVhere from the walles we had in view such cruell sturdy fight That mightie men to death were sent thus battell raignd downright The Greekes by thousands fell to ground their people goe to wracke And that ere long the Troyans stout by Greekes are beaten backe Thus Fortune playes in double sort sometime with vs to stand And then to flie to thother part and geue the vpper hand But while that Hector liued in Troy king Priams eldest sonne The proudest Peere that came from Greece his mightie hand would shun And fly the field before him fast they feared so his name So fierce he fought amongst their men each Greeke dooth know the same At last my lot was so extreame to see him likewise die In turret top from lofty towne his death I did espie For when as he had slaine that day in mighty battell strong Of kingly Peeres the chiefe of all that oft had doone vs wrong And there amongst the rest he had a noble Grecian slaine VVhose armour all was beaten golde which pray he went to gaine And drew him vp vpon his steede and rode foorth of the throng And for his better ease his shield vpon his back he slong VVhile he did spoyle him of his weedes carelesse of any wight His naked breast vnarmed then Achilles had in sight How he was busie and therefore from couert where he lay By stealing steppes behinde his backe he tooke the ready way And suddenly with fatall speare ere that he could aduert He vnawares with furie great thrust Hector to the heart Thus died he thorowe auarice whom thousands could not kill Vntill his wilfull foolishnesse himselfe did fondly spill My selfe I say that time did see from top of lofty towers The Troyan fieldes besprinckled with dew of bloudy showers That Hectors launce had letten out but now his latest fate I soone had spide and did lament to see the wofull state Of this king Priams eldest sonne and eke my chiefest ioy For well I wist that while he liude no harme could hap to Troy But now Achilles ouercrowed him whom he fearde before Wherefore he stabde him thorowly that he might liue no more I saw I saw how Hector lay as dead as any stone And yet the tyrant would not leaue but
chop should staine Because I feard the prophesie therfore I did consent But what of that the Gods themselues did hinder mine intent For if the Gods decree it once I know it will fall out Let no man think the powers diuine by any meane to stout Sir Satire sonne to Pariside of Bosphore sometime king Was wild by Oracle to shun a mouse of any thing For that a mouse should be his death except he took great heed The Oracle did tell him flat his fate was so decreed But he to shun the warned harme did slay the silly mice In field and town that none might liue his death to enterprice And in his land no man might dwell that mouse was cald by name He sought each way to saue himselfe he feared so the same He stopt the holes of creeping mice in euery place full sure For that the vermins by no meanes his death might once procure Yet see the end when least he thought of this forewarned harme He wounded was vpon the brawne or muscle of the arme For Musculus a little mouse in Latine we doo call And Mus a mouse which Satire slew as after did befall A dagger piercd Sir Satirs arme right where the muscle grew And muscle comes of Musculus though then too late he knew And Philip King of Macedon was warned to beware Of wagon or of wheeled coach wherfore he had a care To keep himselfe from any such he neuer could abide To come in coach for feare of that but still on horse did ride For all his care it so fell out he could it not preuent He was deceiud no running coach by this before was ment For being slaine the sword that slew the King was brought to sight And viewed well where on the hilts a coach was grauen right To Pelius it was declarde when that he chauncd to see One barefoot doing rights vnto his fathers ghost that he Should then of death in danger stand the prophesie was so Because he should take heed of him and shun the warned foe When he was doing of his rights vnto his fathers ghost His nephew Iason came by chance whose right foot shoo was lost And there vnto his grandsire dead the youth his dewes did giue The vncle then with ielous mind not long did think to liue For that he feard his neuew now who barefoot there did stand Should be the cause of his dispatch wherfore he out of hand Did counsell Iason being young to Colchos Ile to sayle To fetch the golden fleece from thence wherin he did preuaile His meaning was that Iason should be lost or drownd therin The conquest seemd vnpossible the golden fleece to win And for because he might not feare the prophesie forepast He shipt his neuew speedely and sent him thence in hast But Iason soon returnde again and brought away the fleece And brought Medea home with him to be old Pelias Neece To Thessalie Medea came and hearing what was done Against the aged Pelias she presently begun To practise treason at the last and causd the aged sire By his own daughters to be slaine this was for Pelias hire For he that could not trust the man that was his kinsman near But purposely did seek his death to free himselfe from fear Had such a chance ere that he wist Medea did the deed His ielous mind was chiefest cause that made him so to speed The Oracle long time before did know old Pelias mind Wherfore it told what destenie was to the man assignde Of fiftie daughters Danaus to be the sire was knowne Aegiptus then his brother had so many sonnes his own Aegiptus would haue all these his sonnes his brothers daughters wed But Danaus would not consent wherfore away he fled And tooke his daughters all with him because he did suspect A sonne in law would be his death therfore he did reiect The offer that his brother made but why he did refraine The cause was thus the Oracle did say he should be slaine By him that was his sonne in law wherefore he sought to shunne Such destinie as might befall through such a wicked sonne Aegyptus wroth with this his deede did send his sonnes to stay Their vncle that before was fled and pact from thence away His sonnes according to his will old Danaus did take And causde him there against his will a marrige day to make His daughters all were wedded then against their fathers will Eche man his cousin germaine had Aegyptus did fulfill His mind at last and did reioyce in this so strange a march But Danaus not well content did worke a swift dispatch Because he fearde the prophecie least that on him should light He did commaund his daughters all they should appoint a night Wherein eche one with willing minde her slumbring mate should slay And disappoint the prophecie before the morrow day His iealous minde did vexe him so he still did doubt the worst Til it was done he could not rest the man did so mistrust According to the fathers minde they did commit the act The nuptiall bed was so defilde with such a filthie fact All sauing one was slaine that night a hard and cruel part Whose life was saude for that his wife did wil him thence to start For very loue she bare to him though all her sisters had Destroyde their mates which deede she thought to be right vile and bad Thus being saude by such a meane the sonne in law did wexe Right fierce against his father law and earnestly did vexe He vowde reuenge on Danaus that thus vniustly delt He swore that he should taste the same that they before had felt And in the end he slue the wretch for doing of that deede The Oracle pronouncde before how Danaus should speede Thus seeking how to shunne his fate his death he did procure Himselfe was cause of his dispatch when he thought all things sure The Theban king that Laius hight by Oracle was tolde That Oedipus his onely sonne would proue a man too bolde And in the end should be the death of him that was his sier But Laius thought to frustrate that and proue his god a lier Vnto a shepheard of his owne his sonne he gaue to slay And chargde the man vpon his life there should be no delay But presently his sonne to kill and bring him home his heart He shall not liue so long quoth he to make his father smart The shepheard tooke the lad a field but loath he was to kill His Masters sonne that he loude well and yet he must fulfill His masters minde which grieude him sore wherefore he did inuent How he might satisfie the King and saue the innocent That Oedipus were dead he wisht so that his hands were freed From doing hurt vnto the youth and from so vile a deede Wherefore the hurtlesse lad he tooke his legs with twigs he bound And by the heeles vpon a tree he hung him from the ground That no wilde beasts might reach the
coastes of all the Orient vntill the mightie seas denied him further to passe then prepared he a Nauie of shippes and sayled on the great Ocean sea where he saw manie strange and wonderfull sightes and found out many barbarous Nations which hee also subdued with the sworde not offering to make returne vntill the cruell seas denied his further passage then returned hee to Babylon wonderfully weeping by the way as he went for that he had heard Anaxarchus and Democrites affirme that there were many and diuers worldes for which cause Heu me inquit miserum qui nec vna quidem sum potitus Woe is mee saith hee miserable wretch that am not possessor as yet of any one neither do they feele or knowe my power and might nor haue my banners been spred in their Coasts and countries whereby they might haue knowne me their Lord King Thus continuing in sorrowe vntill he came to the Citie of Babylon where he held a great Parliament for all the Kings of the Orient were sommoned to come and doo their homage to the great King sitting there as it were in the heart middle of the earth to the intent the greatest part of Kings and Princes of the whole world might with speed come to honour him who caused himselfe to be called the sonne of Iupiter for being lifted vp with the pride of his victories attributing the chance thereof to his owne worthinesse thought himselfe in deede the sonne of God commanding his people vpon paine of death so to cal him willing also that all Nations of the earth should adore and worship him by the name of the sonne of Iupiter but see the high and mightie God immortall would not suffer this proude King any longer to liue but cut off his daies in the most florishing time of his prosperitie For those whome Alexander put most trust and confidence in first of all betraied their proude mortall God for at such time as he was bidden to a banquet in the house of his friend Thesalus Medus hee was miserablie poysoned by the hands of Cassander Philip and Iola which was by the consent of his owne Lieftenant Antipater and Aristotle sometime his master and Tuter which happned by his vnsatiable appetite of coueting with the vnmeasureable thirst after dignitie and also the intollerable vice of pride thorowe which he caused himself to be called a God all which they deadly detesting consented to the poysoning of their King Then was the saying of Diogenes verefied in Alexander who said That his length of ground were sufficient patrimonie for himselfe which in the end the greatest Prince of the world must be contented withall Notwithstanding Alexander regarded not the saying of the wise Philosopher but coueted still after the whole world y t when he needed but so much possession as Diogenes before spake of he could not possesse it but wanted the rites of his buriall for hee was kept aboue the ground vnburied by reason of the great strife discentions which were amongst the Lords and peeres of Macedonie about the succession whereof when Olympias his mother had heard she tooke on verie pittifullie and made this mourneful lamentation saying O fili fili tu cùm in deorum numerum referri volueris id perficere summo studio conatus sis nunc neque illorum quidem quorum omnibus mortalibus aequale par ius est particeps fieri potes terrae sepulturae My sonne my sweete sonne needes wouldst thou be recounted among the Gods immortall and didst what thow couldst to accomplish thy purpose but now my sonne my sweet sonne thou art so far from being heauenly that thou art most vile wanting the common benefit of buriall whereof not so much as the lowsie beggar is depriued Thus did she bewaile her ill lucke and froward fortune detecting also the pride vanitie of her son Alexander in her bitter lamentation For truely the body of her sonne had wanted the rights of buriall had not his friend Aristander Telmisensis inuented a craftie meane to bring his carrion carkas to the earth for lying aboue the ground vnburied the space of thirtie daies this his faithfull friend comming to the lords and péers which were at variance about the succession of his kingdome made this fained protestation as though he had beene pricked therevnto by some extraordinary or heauenly motion to saye these words as followeth Omnes omnium seculorum reges Alexander foelicitate superauit tà m viuus quà m mortuus Etenim dij immortales mihi notum fecerunt in quacunque terra ipsius anima requiem primum esset habitura eam foelicitate abundantem ab omni hostili vastatione in perpetuum fore liberam Alexander when he was liuing and also now being dead excelled al kings of all ages in felicitie happinesse beatitude and prosperitie for the gods euerlasting haue reuealed and made manifest to me that in what region soeuer the soule of Alexander first did rest the same should be crowned with plentie and abundance it should not feare the wasting of forren force nor be subiect to the violent inuasion of the spitefull aduersarie When the péeres and nobles had heard these wordes pronounced by Aristander they presently cut off all quarelling for supremacie and euery one of them put too his helping hand with no lesse desire than duetie to conuey the dead carkasse of Alexander into his owne Empire that they might possesse their treasure and all things in peace notwithstanding beholde the immortal God would not suffer the dead carkasse of this god to take as yet any rest in the grounde nor to haue the rights of buriall but caused dissension to arise whereby his body was tossed frō place to place For Ptolomeus king of Aegypt made inquisition and search after the dead body of Alexander and founde it out at Alexandria as for the Macedonians they were calme quiet and still Perdicas onely excepted who pursued Ptolomeus with might and maine not so much for the loue duetie and reuerence which he had to Alexander as for the wordes which Aristander pronounced neither truely did Ptolomeus bestowe that great paines for the verie loue he bare to Alexander so much as he did for the same deuotion as Perdicas had but Perdicas in the end ouertaking Ptolomey stayed him in which incounter Ptolomey suppressed the power of Perdicas and committed a great slaughter of the Macedonians who sought so earnestly to recouer the dead body of the Macedonian Monarch and were also at the last flouted after this sort for Ptolomeus had made an image which resembled Alexander the puissant and decked it gloriously beautifyeng it with garments of princelinesse he also adorned it with Epigrams and inscriptions and poesies of high honour he laid it in a Persian chariot and decked the coffin brauely with golde and siluer as became the estate of an Emperour as for the carkas it selfe it was but homely handled for it was wrapt in no costly
my patrimonie which my Father left me but be contented therewith and leaue it to my sonne as it was left me Wherewith the king being not content went home sorowing remaining verie pensiue and heauie for that he could not lawfully or without great shame take away the vineyard of Naboth but when Iezabel fully perceiued the cause of the Kings sorowing and heauines she directed letters to y e Rulers of y e place wher Naboth dwelt making them priuie of her bloudie practise wishing and commaunding them to proclaime a fast in their Citie and then to hire and suborne two witnesses that should falsely accuse him before the Iudges and presently therevpon to lead him out of the Citie and stone him to death which cruel doome and execrable murder was forthwith accordingly executed But notwithstāding although for a time reuengement was deferred yet could she not scape vnpunished for so soone as Iehu was annointed King he was straightly cōmanded from the verie mouth of God to persecute the house of King Ahab with great crueltie and not to leaue anie one liuing that should pisse against the wall wherefore he presently warred on the Citie of Iezrael and spoiled the house and frends of Ahab vntill he came where Iezabel lodged who was most cruelly vsed in consideration of her former trespasse for she was throwen and tumbled downe headlong from a lofty window to the hard pauements of the stréete wherewith her bloud sprong about the postes and walles of the stréet so that dogges came and licked vp her bloud and eate her flesh the rest being troden to durt with horseféete and marching souldiers insomuch that there remayned no more vnspoyled and defaced but onely the palmes of her hands Thus was Iezabel most cruelly slaine and miserably vsed by the very commaundement of God for the murdering and sheading of innocent bloud Also Olimpias wife to Philip the Macedonian king and mother to Alexander the great cōmitted diuers most horrible shamefull murthers namely first it was suspected and layd to her charge the consenting to the murther of her husband king Philip who was slaine by the hande of Pausanias For after this Pausanias had trayterously slaine the king her husband had receiued iust punishment for his villanie she openly mourned for the death of the said murtherer And also it was well knowē that she had prouided horses ready against the deede was committed to the end the slayer of her husbande might the better escape Further when his body did hang on the galous she came thether the first night and crowned the dead head of Pausanias with a crowne of gold taking also the carkasse from the trée burying it most nobly and made a famous Tombe in the same place for his remembrance Which causes being thorowly considered can import no otherwise than an accessary and guilty mind This Olimpias after the death both of Philip her husband and Alexander her sonne in the time that the Macedonian Princes and successors to her sonne Alexander did contend and striue for the superioritie and regiment of their dead master came down into Macedon with a great power to warre on Philip king thereof and Euridice his wife who at that time were lawfull inheritors of that kingdome and gaue them battaile In which conflict she tooke the King prisoner and all his whole familie But Euridice his wife fled for her safetie into the Citie Amphipolis where not long after she also was taken Then seised Quéene Olimpias into her hand all the whole Realm of Macedon howbeit she very vngently entreated these her prisoners For first she caused the king and Euridice his wife to be put into a straite prison that they could hardly turne themselues within and had their meat geuen thē in at a little hole but after they had béen there awhile thus miserably dealt withall Olympias perceiuing that the Macedonians for very compassion they had of the said captiues greatly maliced and hated her wherefore she caused King Philip by certaine souldiers of Thrace to be slaine after he had reigned king sixe yeares and foure moneths And for because that Euridice not well digesting her shamefull crueltie in so treacherously betraying her dead husband and also somewhat insolently spake said that she had better right and title to the crowne and realme of Macedonia than Olympias had she therefore either without regard of the late dignitie royall that the sayd Euridice had béen in or yet the common mutability variety of fortune sent her three liberall gifts to make her choyse thereof which was a sword a halter and poyson to end her life withal who of necessitie was forced to take one Thus whē the wofull Queene had receiued this present of Olympias seeing no remedie but that needs she must take and accept of one she said The Gods graunt like choyce to this cruell Olympias and that she may receiue like guerdon for her liberalitie heerein Thus when she had adorned the bodie of her husband Philip slaine in her presence and stopped vp the wounds to couer the deformitie of them then refusing the aforesaid presents of the curteous Queene in the best manner she could with her own girdle strāgled her selfe and so died Yet was not Olympias satisfied with these lamentable and execrable murders but soone after she had thus shamefully put them to death she made Nicanor Cassanders brother to be slaine and spitefully defaced the tombe of Iolas his other brother Ouer and besides this she picked weeded out an hūdred noble men of Macedonie which were frends to Cassander and caused their throates to be cut for which cruell and barbarous deed Cassander being moued gathered an Armie minding to reuenge himself on the Queen for her great crueltie and draue her at the last to the Citie Pidue where hee besieged her long vntil such time that vittaile failed her yet notwithstanding she would not yeeld although both her company and the Citizens dyed wonderfully by famine and greeuous plagues which chanced to them by reason of the dead bodies which lay in the town diches vnburied most horribly stinking insomuch that there dyed daily in the towne through these two causes aforesaid verie many citizens and soldiors Being also forced thorough extreame and miserable hunger to feed on the dead carkasses of the pined men The townesmen seeing theyr lamentable estate yeelded vp the Citie against Olympias will and humbled themselues willingly to the mercie of Cassander Then after this Queen was taken prisoner Cassander caused all the friends of them whom she had murdred to accuse her in the common place of iudgment before the assembly of the Macedonians Which thing they accordingly did where the Macedonians in the absence of Olympias hauing there neither any patrone or aduocate to defend her vniust cause condemned her to death For execution wherof Cassander sent 200. of his trustiest souldiers to kil her which entered her Pallace where she was Streightway so soone as she perceiued them
restrayned from his accustomed tyrannie two of the most noblest young Gentlemen of the Citie conspired his death venturing their owne liues to deliuer and set free their Common-wealth from such a tyrannous enemie neuer resting vntill they had freed their Countreymen from his cruell tyrannie For Clearchus vnmercifully tormenting his guiltles subiects with most cruell torture sharp punishment and extreame banishment taking pleasure in the vntollerable paines of his distressed people finding out most sharpe and cruell inuentions to plague and torment his miserable Subiects withall At the last these two yong Gentlemen Chion and Leonides being both brought vp vnder the tutorship and gouernment of the wise and learned Philosopher Plato tendring their Countreyes libertie and detesting the cruell tyrannie of the wicked Tyrant fained themselues to be at variance and earnest controuersie in the Kings presence insomuch that they drewe their Daggers one at the other in the Kinges sight so betwixt them both they stabbed the Tyrant to death and deliuered their Common wealth from such a bloudie minded butcher It is also reported that after Pisistratus was dead who vsurped the crowne and raigned by force and crueltie that then his sonne Diocles excelling his Father in all kinde of tyranny was soone after him slaine for his wickednes and especially for that he had dishonourably rauished and with violence intreated a yong Maide whose brother in reuengement thereof slew the King Then raigned his Brother Hippias who also was a most wicked and bloudie Tyrant this Hippias caused the yong man that had slaine his brother to be racked to confesse who were the counsellers of him to that déede who named all the Tyrants frends Whom so soone as they were apprehended were presently put to death as chiefe ayders in the conspiracie whereof they were altogether ignorant and vnguiltie but the youngman appeached them for mainteining the tyrant in his wickednes Thus the tyrants frends being slaine the yong mā was againe demaunded if he knewe anie other that was consenting to the death and murder of his Brother The young man answered No truly Hippias there is none liuing that I would haue dead but thou thy selfe O thou Tyrant Saying further That he greatly reioyced that he had caused one Tyrant to execute tyrannie on another whereby he had freed his Countrey from a great number of them wishing and earnestly exhorting his Countrey men to haue as great a care in wishing well to their Countrey by rooting out of all such Tyrants which déede would sort the common good of their Countreymen as they had or should haue of their owne priuate Estates Did Nero purchase to himselfe the fauor and friendly harts of his Countrie men by such monstrous crueltie as he commōly vsed No truly but their disdainfull hate was thereby obtained He had such care ouer his Countrey and so tendered the welfare of his Countreymen that to satisfie and please his tyrannous minde on a time hee woulde néedes set the stately Citie of Rome on fire to see how rightly it would resemble the burning and ouerthrowe of Troy when the Greekes had taken it by which cruell déed he was the spoyle of manie a thousand Romane for the fire continued burning in the Citie the space of fiue dayes wonderfully consuming the goods and treasure of the Citizens to the great impouerishing of the whole Common wealth For which impious cruelties when he had committed other outragious tyrannies which before are specified he was by the common consent of his subiects condemned to be beaten to death with whips and roddes but the execution was not done accordingly for the preuented their sharp sentence with the murder of himselfe Diomedes the bloudie Thracian Tyraunt scaped not vnreuenged for his monstrous and abhominable murders in giuing to his horses the bodies of liuing men to bee deuoured of those rauenous iades which he kept for the same purpose executing dayly his accustomed tyrannie vpon the poore distressed Thracians his Countreymen delighting to embrewe himselfe in the bloud of his subiects but in the ende the noble Hercules disdaining to suffer so vile a wretch a liue made warre against him and tooke the cruell Tyraunt Diomedes prisoner giuing him to his owne horses who deuoured him as their wonted pray For being before by accustomed manner made fierce and fell in their iadish crueltie they were now the more apt and readie to teare in péeces and plucke lim-meale the bodie of the bloudie Tyrant Also the most odious and detestable Tyrant Phalaris in semblable manner receiued like reward for when he had long time studied and inuented for strange and cruell torments to plague and paine his poore subiects withall at last Perillus a notable and expert workman came to Phalaris hoping to receiue such reward as the Tyrants proclamation before had promised and sayd Sir King I haue inuented and made a most strange rare and cruell punishment to torment whom it shall please you after a most wonderfull and extreame order The engine was like a Bull made and shaped of brasse in euerie respect hauing in the side thereof a dore right artificially contriued to put in naked men which doore being closed vp fast againe with the man in the middle fire should bee put vnder the belly of the brasen Bull and so soone as the Engine began thoroughly to heate it would so scorch and burne the liuing man within that he shuld not choose but mainly and extreamely crie out whose voyce by comming thorough certaine hollowe holes in the Buls throte made for that purpose should séeme like to the cruell roaring of a mad Bull or some other bedlam Beast which was sharply goared or pricked Phalaris beholding this strange deuice greatly reioycing at the rarenesse thereof thought it long vntill he might sée the effect thereof put in execution Wherefore calling to him the running worke man who had taken great paines in framing and contriuing that straunge and rare torment saying Friend Perillus I most heartely thanke thee for this deuice and for because I would saine be satisfied and see some experience prooued in this thy hollowe deuice I commaund that thou prooue the first experience of thine owne handie crafte Which without stay was forced to bee done to the great terrifying of all the beholders Thus was Perillus beaten with his owne rodde for that which hee made for gaine to crucifie land torment others hee first of all tasted himselfe Yet notwithstanding Phalaris was not to be commended herein for that he had no respect to the cause but according to his accustomed manner of crueltie vsed the Engine afterwardes to the punishment of his subiects therewithall to delight and satisfie his tyrannous and bloudie minde vntill his Countrey men detesting such outragious crueltie could not suffer his tyrannie anie longer but rose vp against him and tooke the bloudie Tyrant putting him into the brasen Bull to make him tast the torment of his owne crueltie Thus also died the notable
of such cruell hate Was by Patroclus haplesse death who was his louing mate Whom Hector slewe in open fight with many a Greeke that day And spoylde him of his armor bright that naked there he lay Which armor was the chiefest canse that brought him to his end The angry gods displeasde with vs such haplesse hap did send All things thus done my other sonnes reuenge did vowe to take On vile Achylles for this deede and for slaine Hectors sake That presently vpon the Greekes with mightie force they went And thousands on ech part that day to dreadfull death were sent Thus dayly they did still contend by force of cruell warre And Princes fell on eyther side that thither came from farre The Greekes did waxe the Troyans grew as desperat men in fielde To daunt eche others haughty minde and make eche other yeelde At last againe as fortune woulde Achylles fierce did slay My other sonne sir Troylus who was our chiefest stay A valiant youth the Greekes can tell although he thus did die For that before the proudest Greekes he forced had to flie In turrets tall from toppe of towne my hap was still so bad To see my louing sonne to die a wofull sight most sad For mothers eie still to beholde her louing children so To end their dayes and be abusde by such a spitefull so From loftie walls I then beheld sir Troylus my sonne To course the Greekes on euery side and made them fast to run Vntill that fierce Achylles came who sure I thinke was borne To breede my woe and that the gods against me wretch had sworne To plague with hellish torments vile the plagues of furthest hell Should hap to me and greater paines than any tongue can tell For that what time soeuer I on walls did see the fight Some childe of mine was sure to die within his mothers sight When nowe to turrets top I climde with many Ladies more Whereto I did not once ascend since Hector dide before But then too soone such was my chaunce I thinke the gods decreede That while I did behold the fight no better they should speede Achylles braue on horse did mount whom Troylus had spide To brag amongst the Greekes his mates well mande on euery side But when my sonne had found his foe and thought on Hectors foile Like mighty Mars he layd on lode and made that day great spoile He thrust amongst the thicest throng Achylles out to finde That he might knowe his brothers death as yet he had in mind With couched launce and courage good my sonne did run amaine In hope to haue by manly force his cruell foe there slaine He mist the marke but yet he strake Achylles from his steede And if the Greekes had not giuen ayde he then had done the deede And yet for all the Greekes could do he gaue his foe a wound Thorowe plated thigh he thrust his launce a handful in the ground Achylles horsde by helpe of Greekes and mounted vp anew And then with troupe of armed Knights my sonne he did pursue The wounded Greeke that folowed fast sir Troylus had spide Who turnd his horse and willd his mates his fury to abide With monstrous force the Greekes did fight the Troyans did not flie On either side to lay it on the people fiercely cry At last the Greekes had giuen the horse that then my sonne did beare A mortall wound that paind him so the iade did fiercely fare In plunging sort the horse did play with mighty gyrds at last From setled seate my haplesse sonne the winsing iade had cast In falling downe ah heauy chance his foote the stirrop helde The wounded horse so scard before ran raging in the field And dragd my childe before my face vpon the bloody ground For blood did flow that day ful fresh from many a mortal wound Achylles hauing spide my sonne in such a woful case With piercing speare to him halfe dead he hied him then apace Through backe and side his launce he sent and cride I now am quit With this my wound receiude before and therewithal did hit The staggring horse that downe he fel and there together lay Both man and horse thus fortune vile her froward pranks did play Sir Troylus by chance thus slaine the Greekes from armour stript Whose bowels hung about his feete for they his body ript And naked on a gibe they hang for Troyans there to see Their champion stout whom earst before had made the Greekes to flee Olde Pryamus and I beheld our louing sonne so kinde In vgly sort to hang on high starke naked in the winde Whose corps did waue in swinging-sort which way each wind did blowe And as he hung the angry Greekes at him great stones did throwe Their speares did passe through senselesse corps before him slaine they vaunt So fierce the fooles his carkasse dead with bitter words did taunt Hang here quoth they thou wicked wretch and rue thy brothers deede If he by Grecian fist be caught no better shall he speede For causing of this bloody warre that many thousands rue Their haplesse chance but he himselfe we trust shall haue his due And that ere long wherefore till then feele thou his earned smart We Greekes do hope that Paris proude shal rue his wilful part These words we heard this sight we see the Greekes like mad men rage They threaten stil for Paris deede sharp war with vs to wage A sight ful strange yet not so rare for fortune did present More harder haps to me than this to plague me she was bent A messenger we sent to craue the carkasse of our childe Whose bones were broke and skin from flesh with blows the Greeks had hilde Achylles straight did send my sonne which something pleasde my minde I did not thinke such curtesie at his handes then to finde But with my sonne to comfort me these louing words did send My friend quoth hee tel Hecuba that oft I do intend Such gifts on her for to bestow to breed her further ioy Til such time serue wish her to take of me this mangled boy Thus Troylus was brought to Troy a heauie sight God knows His body foule disfigured with many bloody blows They layde him downe before my face that mothers eies might see Her sonne whom fierce Achylles vsde with such extremitie His martyrde corps I did intoombe though part were left behinde Which Grecian iades did tread to dirt yet al that I could finde To graue was sent the funerals and al things else wel done The Troyans al in woful wise do much lament my sonne That al the towne with houlings sound ech one did waile his fil Him dead I know it was in vaine but that did shew good will Now did the Greekes afresh begin the Troyans to suppresse And they as fierce did fight it out in hope to haue redresse Of former wrongs but al in vaine for Hector now was gone And Troylus my other sonne wherefore there was not one Aliue
our City great did vtterly destroy Fierce was the flame on euery side downe falls the buildings faire The temples of our sacred gods the fier did not spare Till all things flat vpon the ground did lie like desart plaine For memorie of this our tovvne the vvalls did not remaine Dovvne to the earth it smoking lay defaced so vvith fire To ruine novv all things vvere come vvhich vvas the Greekes desire The bodies of the Troyans slaine in Zanthus floud did svvimme Eche channell deepe vvith crimson blood stoode floting to the brimme The members of our martred men in barren fields they flung In fertile sort to fat the earth in steade of other dung That where the towne of Troy did stand in little space was seene Where houses stoode there grasse did growe in sprouting sort full greene And where the Temples of our gods in stately maner stoode The dockes and weedes were cherished by losse of Troyans bloode No place of Troy vntoucht did stand but all for waste was layde The Greekes cride quit with that vile part that Paris first had playde When that mine eies had seene all this the sorrowes which were past Eche wofull hap once callde to minde starke mad I fell at last And raging in the fieldes I ran where lately Troy did stand From thence when I had raylde my fill I passde to Thracia land Where Polymnestor that vile wretch and traytor bad did raigne Who had betrayde yong Polidore my sonne for filthie gaine Which cruell acte though then starke mad in minde I still did beare That for reuenge on him I fell and out his eies did teare To worke him woe for this his deede my frantike minde was fierce The cheekes of this disloyall wretch my nayles did soundly pierce That he foorthwith had lost his sight for this his former deede O would to God all traitours thus for treacherie might speede This deede once done my troubled minde somewhat I did appease For wel I wist the wretch was blinde which did my sorrow ease And also to my further ioy proude Pyrrhus lost his life When he returned home to Greece by reason of the strife That stout Orestes had with him for Hermion that wench That nothing else but present death could this their quarrell quench Achylles sonne at last was slaine Orestes had his ioy And Pyrrhus might repent the time that first he came to Troy Where he imbrewde himselfe with blood and slewe the aged King Which was the cause of his mishap and sure no other thing The gods that knew his cruell minde and saw his wilfull fact Could not lesse do than make the Greeke repent his bloudy act Orestes slue Achylles sonne thus Pyrrhus being dead Like hearbes to pot his flesh was chopt no otherwise he sped This newes to me some comfort was in this my wofull state To heare what hard mishap befell to him that slue my mate And well I wist his father first for vsing me so ill Was slaine himselfe by my consent for Paris did him kill And also how that Thracian King that Polymnestor hight For so betraying of my sonne and doing me that spite Receiude a guerdon for his fact his lumen lights he lost Wherefore the traytor of his gaines I thinke could scarcely bost Of all the rest it did me good for that my hands had done Such due reuenge on that vile wretch that so betrayde my sonne I ioyde a while at this my deede my sorrow wel did flake For that I knew they dide the death of whom before I spake But when againe I callde to minde my children that were gone And deere alies of whom the Greekes aliue had left not one And how olde Pryamus my mate before my face did die On Pyrrhus blade that Grecian grim while I in vaine did crie For helpe to free him from the hand of this his spitefull fo In vaine I cride for that the gods decreede it should be so And then when that I thought on Troy on Troy our stately towne Which was the eie of all the world but now by Greekes throwne downe And like a desart place did lie no signe of Troy did stand The empire stout of Asia great so wrested from our hand That I the greatest Queene on earth so was my stately stile In time forepast and now to be a helplesse wretch most vile So base and humbly was I vsde farre from my former state That harborlesse I rangde about this was my haplesse fate Despisde of all receiude of none refusde of those that faund On me before when I their Queene did euery thing commaund But now although I vsde them well in elder time before They to requite my courtesie did shut me foorth of dore And let me lie without reliefe this kindnesse they did showe In Princes place to me they sude but now they would not knowe Their haplesse Queene in miserie but let me raging runne In euery corner where I would eche wight me wretch did shunne Not Greekes I meane but subiects mine who sometime did professe In Asia soile me for their Queene and now in this distresse The Greekes had awde their minds so far they durst not on me looke But as a thing that venyme was eche liuing wight forsooke Which when I spide and callde to minde my former stately place And now againe did see my selfe to liue in such disgrace In frantike sort my heart was vext the anguish of my minde Like bedlam beast did make me run the spitefull Greekes to finde That were the causers of my woe that I reuenge might take On all the wrongs that they had done and for my husbands sake Whom they had slaine before my face and for my children deare For whose sweete sakes amongst the Greekes I went without al feare With eger fist I laide on loade with nayles and feete at length But slender hurt a womans hand could do to men of strength Yet notwithstanding my good will was seene by this my force And theirs againe O wretched me by vsing such remorce For when that I had done my worst and shewed my vtter might And breathlesse stoode for want of breath by this my feeble fight The Greekes with stones did compasse me whose force I stil defide Till they with stones did strike me downe where presently I dide Lo thus when that all vile mishaps had chaunced vnto me Whome fortune followed to the death with such extremitie And that mine eies to my great griefe such wofull things had seene But would to God before the warre long time I dead had beene When all such haps of hatefull dome that fortune could assigne Did chaunce to me by haplesse hap such luckelesse lot was mine To ende my dayes in great disgrace I dide among my foes They stoned me to death poore wretch a heauy end God knowes Had euer any such mishap since first the world begunne Or any one did know such woe that liued vnder sunne As I my selfe poore wretched Queene though bootelesse now
flout and mock me that I despaired whether euer I should speake with your person or no so many of your abusers did represent your presence but now hoping to bee certified with the true reports of your owne mouth of those things and doubtes wherein you haue béen so often abused For it is crediblie reported that you are the greatest traueller in the world and haue séene all Kingdomes and nations of the earth by your vnspeakeable swiftnes the vttermost Iles in the maine Ocean hath had your presence the mightiest Kings and Princes of the earth can neither stop or hinder your appointed trauaile you passe their priuie chambers and know their secret counsailes your eyes haue séene the vncertaintie of time the mutabilitie of honor the vnconstancie of fortune the instabilitie varietie of the life of man the subuersion of kingdomes the ouerthrow of empires the ruine and destruction of stately townes and cities your eyes hath séene your eares hath heard your vnderstanding doth remember from the creation of the world and shall remaine vsque ad consummationem seculi therefore séeing your trauaile so wonderfull your cōtinuance so ancient and your memorie so notable I shall request you to vnfolde relate part of those things which your selfe are a witnesse of and haue with present eies beheld as the nature of things the condition of people with the inconueniences of this transitorie life and what calamities miseries troubles enormities and vexations doth commonly happen and incidently fall to man Fa. My good friend if the speaches of my mouth may chalenge such credite with you I am content to make you partaker of my great trauaile and what I know concerning the state of the world on this condition that your mind shall detaine carie away and perceiue with more liuelines of sense the effect of my words thā my tōgue by vttring can expresse so with your willing audience I shall bee content to resolue you in anie part wherein you shall demaund Scho. Sir I most hartely thanke you the condition shall be obserued kept to the vttermost of my power mine eares shal also be attendant in silent sort to uote your speaches wel therefore I pray you begin while I am armed with audience Fa. Well then my good friend it is requisit that I first begin with the enormities and inconueniences of the life state of man which he falleth oft into by the defalt of temperance without which gift he runneth headlong to his owne ruine destruction for Seneca saith If thou wilt esteeme and iudge truly what man is then set him naked before thee behold him well setting aside and laying a part from him possessions authoritie and all other giftes subiect to fortune then shall you see what he hath proper of himselfe and what he borroweth of other then shall you well perceiue this naked life of man without which gift it cannot well be preserued or gouerned but of necessitie must needes soone perish and decay Scho. Sir then by your leaue is temperance such a speciall necessary to the life of man Fa. Yea truely for on that hangeth and dependeth all other vertues requisite to the state and life of man it is the good ground of al gouernement a right direction to honest liuing and the true nurse and fosterer of prouident wisedom it keepeth the vnsatiable appetites of ambition vnder the yoke of reason and holdeth downe the immoderate desires of superioritie to be short I referre thée to the definition of Cicero who defineth it on this maner The property of temperance saith he is to couet nothing that afterward may be repented so that thorough the want thereof man falleth into infinite miseries Scho. Well sir then I perceiue that this gift is a most necessary and speciall maxime to the life and gouernement of man wherein I trust to be better instructed heereafter by some familiar examples which doth shew the fall and destruction in the wanters thereof and the quiet state and contentment to the possessors of the same Fa. Friend I will rehearse a very briefe example in the meane time for your better vnderstanding which shall shew a differēce betwixt the vnsatiable appetite of aspiring minds and the quiet state and peaceable contentment which is thorowly to be perceiued in the life of Aleaxnder the Great and Diogenes the philosopher Scho. First sir crauing pardon for interrupting your speeches me think this comparison is very vnfit vnseemely and the difference of vertue and vice will hardly be made manifest by the liues of these two the one being a great Prince and Emperour of many stately countries and kingdoms the other a poore seely beggar who liued by the almes of the people hauing for his house a simple tunne or barrell to harbour himselfe in without any other wealth or substaunce at all Fa. Nay then my good friend you will driue mee from the matter and cause me to make digression for argument sake but before I proceede any further it shall not be amisse to manifest the state of these two and descry your errour Alexander indeede was a great Prince and Emperour of the most part of the world and yet not so rich as Diogenes was for whereas you think the comparison altogether vnfit the one being a beggar and wonderfull poore the other a king and inestimable rich therefore I referre thee to the wise saying of Marcus Cato who saieth Qui contentus est sua sorte Diues est He that is content with his owne estate and calling is sufficient rich We find that Diogenes was content with his poore estate and Alexander not satisfied with al his kingdomes wherefore according vnto the opinion of Cato Diogenes was rich and Alexander poore for truely he can not be rich which is not satisfied neither can he be poore that is contented And further to confirme this argument Mandanus a wise philosopher of India to whom this Alexander sent messengers commanding him to come to the feast of Iupiters sonne which was holden at Babilon meaning himselfe to be the sonne of Ioue declaring further That if hee would come he should haue great rewards and riches giuen him but if he refused and would not obey his commandement he should be put to a most cruell death wherevnto the graue Philosopher answered stoutly saying That Alexander was neither the sonne of God nor yet certaine lord of any part or parcel of the earth but was as mortall as himself as for the gifts rewards of him that was himselfe so vnsatiable couetous hee nothing regarded returning this answere That if it wold please him to receiue accept a gift at his hād he would willingly giue it might very conueniently spare it which was his good counsel that he should holde himselfe content and satisfied with sufficient and to couet no more than were necessary saying That his abilitie was better able to giue than Alexanders for saith he hee woulde
saith hee but lay you by me a little staffe that I may feare and keepe them away therein deriding their foolish curiosity that séemed to be so carefull to burie the dead carkasse as though there had béen great difference whether it had been deuoured of birdes and beastes in the field or eaten and consumed of wormes in the ground so rebuking their folly he died The wise Philosophers so little regarded their dead carcasses knowing by their natural wisdome what the substance thereof was making also no account or reckoning of life whose state was so fraile and fickle the learned Horace going about to quip and reprehend the fearefull minds of those that so much feared death said Pallida mors aequo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas regúmque turries that pale death did as wel visit the rich as the poore therfore saith he it is a foolish thing so much to feare that which no man knoweth when it shall happen neither can it be auoyded or shunned by any praiers or gifts nor by the force or strength of man repelled or driuen back Whereunto also Homer replieth saying Nec vis Herculea fatum enitauit acerbum neither could Hercules strength resist or withstand death The wise Socrates when hée was to suffer punishment namely losse of life Apollodorus his familiar friend comming to the prison where hee was laide vp brought vnto him a verie fine coate of costlie wooll well wouen and wrought and therewithall a cloake of no courser stuffe desiring him to put them on and to weare them when he drunke the poyson that should procure his death For saith he Socrates cannot want a rich and honorable buriall if hee being attired with those gorgeous garments yeeld vp the sweete pledge of his life nor that he should lye dead altogether vndecently being decked with such beautifull and comely furniture These words vttered Apollodorus to Socrates but he not allowing thereof said to Crito Simmias and Phoedon O what a notable opinion dooth Apollodorus conceiue of vs if he hope to see Socrates in such brauerie after he hath drunke vp the poysoned potion ministred to him by the hands of the Athenians but if he did consider and beleeue that shortly after I should droupe downe grouel on the ground and at last lye like a lumpe of lead vnder feete he would not vouchsafe to knowe me Not long before the time of his death also he being at libertie was verie sick and féeble in bodie so that his friends asked him how it fared with him verie well said he how so euer the world shall wag for if I haue my life prolonged I shall increase mine enimies to baite me with rebukes againe if death shorten my dayes I shall winne more friendes to crowne me with commendation In like manner Plato at what time the Academy was reported to be infected with the pestilence the Phisicians gaue him counsaile to remoue his schoole from the Academy into Lyceus but hee neuer a whit agréed to their counsaile but saide Sed ego producendae vitae causa ne in Atho quidem summitatem transmigare velim I would not remoue to the high tops of the maine mountaine Athos for the prolonging of my daies and the preseruing of my mortall life so little also feared or regarded that wise Philosopher the fatall end Sch. Truly y e philosophers in this point do shew thēselues the folowers of wisedome indeede for by birth they perceiue themselues to be mortall therefore make they no great account of their vncertaine life but truely I coulde wish that there were many Philosophers now liuing amongest vs to instruct vs thorowly by their great wisedome whereby wee might as well learne to die as to liue Fa. Surely in mine opinion it were in vaine for the nature of man is rather to credite and followe the precepts and doctrine of those that are dead than to giue audience or be instructed at the mouth of the wise who liueth for Diogenes himselfe in his life was forsaken of al his friends because he vsed to reprehend them most sharpely therefore they termed him a Cinike or doggish Philosopher but after his death his deedes were recorded and had in great reuerence Socrates also was hated amongst his countrimen because he would tell them thorowly of their faults Wherefore in the ende he was accused and put to death but after had in great reuerence and admiration folowing his rules and precepts in gouerning their common wealth In like sort Aristotle Demosthenes Plato Callisthenes and diuers other were had in greater estimation after their death than they were in their life time If Christ himselfe did liue at this day amongest you as he did amongst the Iewes and his miracles shewed to you as they were in Iewry it is hardly to be thought whether you would haue beleeued so soundly on him being bodily liuing amongst you as you do nowe by the certaine reports of his passion and miracles But if the Philosophers would haue giuen themselues to please men to flatter their follie and to maintaine their vice they should haue beene in great estimation in their life but they should neuer haue purchased the name of Philosophers Xenophon saith that Socrates vpon a time had conference with the harlot Caliste who vttered these wordes in course of talke to Socrates Ego tibi Socrates multùm presto nam cùm tu neminem à me possis abalienare ego cum libitum est tuos omnes à te auoco I excell thee Socrates many degrees for when thou canst not allure men from me I can entise any of thine from thee when soeuer I list To whom Socrates shaped this answere Quid mirum est siquidem tu ad decline c. What wonder is that for thou dooest traile men downe in the dale of vice and destruction but I hale them vp the hill of vertue and eternitie wherevnto is no easie passage or common climing meaning that the nature of man were more easier to be entised by flattery to lewdnesse than by sharpe reprehension drawne to vertue The wise Philosophers also were of this minde and opinion that the most blessed and happiest thing which might fall and happen to man was death the end and conclusion of all miseries In like manner the ancient Poets in diuers of their workes haue confirmed the same opinion as a generall and vniuersall iudgement insomuch that it hath beene reported that Biton and Cleobis the sonnes of Araia when their mother being ministresse in a Temple of a goddesse should haue gone to the Temple in a chariot with great speede as the manner was and her horses coulde not be founde her two sonnes of childly pitie vouchsafed themselues to bend their bodies and draw their mother with speed to the Temple for which gentle affection the mother desired of the goddesse whom she serued to giue her children the greatest benefite which GOD might giue to man After the feast in the night when
prison in Chalciaeco where he was miserably starued to death But before he died wrastling with hunger and fighting for life death with famishment further séeing before his face a most miserable lamentable and wofull end remembred vpon a sodaine the saying of Simonides crying out with a loud and pitifull voice thrée seuerall times in this sort saying O Simonides magnum quiddam in tuo sermone inerat ego vero inani persuasione sum adductus vt eum nullius momenti putarem O friend Simonides in thy watchword was a great and weighty matter included but as for me I was caried away with vaine persuasions and made small account of thy wise warning Also Craesus the rich king of Lydia because Solon would not account of him aboue all mortall men then liuing but rather preferred other honest men in beautitude and happy estate farre aboue Crasus nothing regarding the huge heapes of money and mighty masses of treasure which he then possessed Wherewith he was so eleuated with pride that he farre excelled and excéeded all earthly and mortall creatures in his owne conceit Most sharply reprehending Solon for that he so little regarded his mighty power as to preferre any man in blessed estate aboue him whom he ought not so much as once to compare with any mortall man but rather to haue lifted and extolled him to the heauens and recounted him amongst the Gods immortall For which his stately pride and vaine folly he was accordingly punished as is before rehearsed Where he most hartely repented himself of his foolish vanitie Nay there were diuers kings which not onely contented themselues with the stately stile of immortall Gods or satisfied themselues when their subiects both seperated made a difference betwixt them as farre as the heauens from the earth but also commaunded themselues to be adored and worshipped as the very liuing God and that all knees should bowe and be obedient at the hearing of their names as Nabuchodonozer the great and mighty King of Babylon when he perceiued that his power made the worlde to shrinke grewe so proud that he would be a God on the earth setting vp his picture or image commaunding those to be slaine which would not fall downe worship it but see how the high God plagued him most iustly for his proud folly taking his kingdome from him for a time to the intent he might know perceiue a difference betwixt the liuing God and his mortall carkasse being also transformed to an vgly shape of a beast whose head was like the head of an Oxe his feete like to the feete of a Beare his taile like the tayle of a Lyon and euerie haire on his bodie as big as an Eagles feather and he that would be a God before thinking the earth too vile and base for him to tread on was now faine to lay his flapping lips to the ground to gather his food and did eate hay the space of 7. yeres together being at the last againe restored both to his former shape and dignitie Alexander Magnus when hee had conquered most part of the world returned to Babylon holding ther his Parliament summoning the Kings of the earth to come and worship the sonne of Iupiter making such account of himselfe putting diuers to most cruel death who would not consent to his vile folly nor adore him as a God yea and those that were his very friends who had before time preserued him from death and also from diuers dangers which otherwise had greatly annoyed and molested him hee plagued with most vile torments because they would not vphold and maintaine his monstrous errour Notwithstanding for all these gréeuous punishments there were that could not brooke his stately pride but sharply reprehended laughed him openly to scorne for the wise Anaxarchus hearing that this God fell sicke on some sodaine sicknesse and that the Phisitions were sent for to him who ministred purgations vnto him and prescribed certaine receipts and potions for the recouerie of his health whereat he floutingly said thus At deo nostro spes omnis in sorbilatione patellae pofita est What is all the hope of our goodly God come now to the sipping of a platter for in such vessells were the confections and sirops giuen by the Phisitions Further saying after a scoffing manner It had been necessarie first that he should haue been Gods fellowe before he presumed to be a God in deed for so perhaps hee might haue purchased and obtained the good will of the Gods in attaining to his desired seate But he scaped not vnpunished to show the difference betwixt God and man whose miserable death is néedlesse to repeate being before spoken of Also Agrippa the sonne of Aristobolus after his good successes by the lewd entisement of his flattering counsailors and thorough the foolish perswasions of seruants was cōtent to haue such honour done to him as was due to a God yea also to suffer himselfe to be called by the name of a God notwithstanding he had before béen taken prisoner by Tiberius and vsed most cruelly in prison not like a man for he was gyued chayned with mighty chaines to yron But beeing afterward deliuered by Caligula who made him King of the Iewes setting a crowne of golde on his head giuing him a chaine of golde of the same weight that he had before worne in prison of yron so that by such sodaine changes his minde was so eleuated and lifted vp with pride that he no longer would be man but suffered himself to be wondred at by the people as a God causing himselfe so to bee tearmed and called by his subiects but in the ende hee was striken with an Angell in the sight of an infinite number of people wherewith his bodie smelled and wormes issued out with intollerable paines and horrible stench In the which torments grieuous paines he looked on his euill counsailors and flattring seruants saying Loe I whom you called a God am nowe in the paines of death And so most miserably hee died In like sort Menecrates being but a Phisition because he had cured diuers and sundrie diseases to his great fame and commendation did so swell in pride that hee called himselfe Iupiter or Iuuans Pater this arrogant asse sent vpon a time to Philip king of Macedony a letter wherein was written this sawcie salutation Menecrates Iupiter Philipo salutem c. Menecrates Iupiter to Philip sendeth greeting c. Whose vaunting vaine the King perceiuing wrote back againe in this manner and forme folowing Philippus Menecrati sanitatem c. Philip Macedo to Menecrates wisheth well fare c. Consulo vt ad Anticyram te conferas I counsaile thee to take thy iorney to Anticyra meaning by this drye frump that the man was moonesick and besides his wittes the aforesaide Philip on a time made a sumptuous and costly banquet whereunto he inuited and bad Menecrates commanding his seruants that there
were altogether wonderfull and verie vnlikely but that the liuing GOD who punisheth with shame such shameful murderers would be sharply reuenged on him for his monstrous crueltie in so slaying of the innocent For not long after he was slaine in Battaile by the right noble Henrie Earle of Richmond where his mangled corpes was laid being first despoyled of armes and stripped naked ouer a horse backe hanging downe in such sort that the filthie durt and myre did both spot and sprinkle the ill shaped carkasse of this abhorred Tyrant which was a most odious and detestable sight yet too worthie a funerall for so murderous a wretch This recompence happened to him for his intollerable crueltie Thus it plainly appeareth that murder is sharply punished as well in the Prince and Péere as in the silliest sot and poorest slaue for further proofe whereof to showe the iust reuengement of God on meaner personages this one example shall suffice The true and certaine report goeth that one Macharcus a sacrificing Priest of God Bacchus dwelling in Mityline in his exteriour countenaunce and fauour resembled great gentlenesse and courtesie yet in life manners and inward practises no man that liued coulde bee more wicked or abhominable It fortuned on a time y t a certaine soiorner lodged at his house and committed to his credite a certaine summe of mony in gold this Machareus being assaulted with auarice and carried as it were into captiuitie to couetousnesse makes a hole in a secret place of the temple with a mattocke and therein hides the gold which he was put in trust withall After a few dayes were expired the soiourner desired to haue his own again vpon which request Machareus led the man mistrusting no mischiefe nor doubting anie danger into the temple where vnder pretence cloake and colour to restore the man his right and hauing as he thought opportunitie time and place to worke his villanie murdred the man which being compassed to his contentation he tooke vp the golde and laid the right owner thereof whome he had iniuriously slaine in the selfe same place couering him ouer with earth and damd vp the pit in such sort as all things in his thinking were cock sure perswaded himselfe that as men be deceiued and mocked so the powers supernall the eternall God I meane might be deluded and blinded But the matter fell out vnhappely inough and had another euent than was hoped for on Machareus part for after a few dayes were passed the solemne Seruice and Obsequies of GOD Bacchus which were yearly approached and was celebrated according to ancient custome wherein Machareus behauing himselfe after a gorgeous and glorious estate being verie busie in the festiuall Ceremonie it chaunced that his two sonnes which were left at home as that day did imitate their Fathers order in holy seruice in such sort and effectuall manner that the yonger brother cast himselfe prostrate on the ground and laid his head vpon a blocke verie méekely which the elder brother with an olde rustie whinyeard or cankred wood-knife did chop off from the shoulders Anone came in the seruaunts which dwelled in the house séeing the childish murder that was committed gaue a great shoute making a terrible outcrie and pitifull noyse as men meruailously confounded and amazed at sight of so strange and bloudie a spectacle The vehemencie of which lamentable clamor and outragious roaring speedely pearced the eares of the frighted mother who came like a mad woman to vnderstand the meaning of the matter and then séeing one of her sonnes slaughtered and weltering in streames of bloud and the other holding still a rustie glaue in his hand all to be stayned with the crimsen blood of his brothers flesh she caught vp a firebrand very fiercely and in the heate of her great rigor did so thumpe and souse her liuing sonne that he died the death in her presence Then was tidings brought to Macareus what butcheries were committed at home in his priuate house who immediatly vpon the report therof left the holy seruice like a man moonesick or rather a fiend of hell ranne home with might and maine hauing in his hand at the same instant a burning torche or taper where with he did so beate bounce and baste his wife ouer euery limme and ioynt that she in like case was soone dispatched of life Thus when the multitude had intelligence of these rare and lamentable murthers they forthwith apprehended Macareus and vrged him thorow examination and torment to confesse each circumstance of this bloudy Tragedie and as he was opening the matter and discouering the mischief which he had committed in the holy temple prophaning a seuerall and sacred Chappel with two notorious and inexpiable trespasses the paines of death oppressed him insomuch that he died sodenly before the whole assembly of people These miserable chances hapned to Macareus by reason of his monsterous murthers as a terrible and most fearfull example to the followers and imitators of his horrible profession Scho. O miserable ende and yet deserued hap no better successe is to be hoped for than such ruine and cruell destruction to those that doe imbrue their hands in the bloud of the innocēt contrary to the law of God and nature Besides these your examples we sée dayly what reuengement falleth to the share of those bloudy minded persons though their villanies for a time he did yet in the end the true God will not suffer them to scape vnpunished For I thinke is no people of ciuill gouernment so voyde of good and holesome lawes in this cause but that they prouide a sharpe punishment for wicked murtherers prouided alwaies that whosoeuer shall transgresse or willingly breake the saide ordinances and decrées that then such persons by vertue of the law shall suffer worthy punishment namely losse of life In your exaumples it is also manifest that those whose power and person far excéedeth and surmounteth a lawe and whose high dignitie disdayneth to stoupe to the law and decrée of the lande notwithstanding when neither people nor Péeres may decrée sentence against them for such detestable sin and cruell murthers the liuing God plagueth them in the ende with most sharp and grieuous punishments without remorse being much higher aboue them then they aboue their lawe whereby it seemeth that if Princes by reason of their high estate and dignitie doe escape the punishment and decreed sentence of a law yet the very prouidence of the highest bringeth them in the ende to open confusion vtter destruction as your aforesaid examples haue verified it Further it remayneth to vs that at what time the people craued answere of the Oracles expecting from thence the very flat determination of their God heard often most sharpe decrees against murtherers by their diuine Oracles pronounced for at such time as a certayne Musicion who played on the harpe singularly well did both play and sing at Sybaris in a solemne feast made and set forth in the honour of
Sceuola in which when he came to the place hee thrust his right hand willingly into the fire first suffering it to burne to ashes couragiously saying I willingly committe this my hand to the fire which fayled to kill Porsena the tyrant Further affirming at his death that there were thrée hundreth Romanes more redy prest which had also sworne the death of the king if he fayled and would as willingly venture themselues in their Countreys cause as he before them had done and as it were among themselues striuing who first should doe that good seruice to their countrey Which when Porsena had hearde he did not much discommend their faithfulnes towardes their Commonwealth but with all speed remoued his siege and departed from the walles of Rome to the great reioising of the citizens Thus ought euery man to haue a speciall care regard to preserue his natiue countrey and commonwealth For when both Princes and noble estates haue willingly ventured life nay run to present death for the sauegard of the weale publike much more then ought euery priuate person and meane subiect in Prince and Countreyes cause valiantly to venture both life and lim with right couragious mindes in defence of so honest and good a cause Scho. I confesse that euery subiect ought willingly to offer his body in defence of his Prince and natiue Soyle and not to haue so great a care for the preseruation of his priuate person as for the benefit and welfare of his Prince and Commonwealth Were it not a vile reproach and ignomie to those people that should by their cowardlines suffer their king to be slaine in the field and they themselues to remaine aliue and geue the looking on Contrariwise is it not great honor to him that shall hazard his life yea or run to right desperate exploites in the good cause or quarrell of his Prince To conclude it is the part of euery good prince to haue a care of the welfare of his commonwealth and of the preseruation of his subiects and also the part of all honest Subiects to haue a duetiful care to preserue their prince and a manly courage to defend their coūtrey Truely we read in most ancient histories of diuers who by their noble valoure wise policie and manly courage haue defended from the inuation of forrain foes both their weale publique from subuersion their stately townes and cities from ruine and decay also the whole body of their countreymen from most cruel murther and pitifull slaughter and yet in the end haue been most vilely recompenced by their vnkind countreymen Was not Manlius a Roman surnamed Capitolinus who preserued the Capitoll or castle of Rome from the cruell force of the Gaules and did many other noble actes in his Countreis cause throwne down from the top of the same Castle headlong by his owne vnkind countreimen whom he many times both manfully and couragiously had defended and saued Also Miltiades a noble man of Athens which in the field of Marathaon with 10000. Gréekes discomfited and put to flight 600000. Persians and so by his great wisdome and prudent policie saued deliuered his countrey from being ouerrun with such a mighty and huge hoast which otherwise had beene vtterly subdued ouerthrowen but after being cast in arrerage of a certaine summe of mony he was by his vngratefull Countreymen condemned into most cruell prison and there died in fetters and being dead he might not be suffered to be buried vntill his sonne had put on him the giues that his father did weare In like sort Themistocles a noble captain of the same vngrateful town of Athens after he had deliuered his Countrey from the huge terrible power of Xerxes putting him to flight and al his great hoast making y t mightie king by his circumspect wisdome and policie shamefully to flie home in a Fishermans boate vnknowen for the safety and preseruation of himselfe notwithstanding was at the last driuē his Countrey and forced to flie by the vnkinde Citizens to his enemie Xerxes whō before he had driuen from the walles of Athens but Xerxes willingly receiued such a friende with great intertainment and sent him againe with a mighty armie to warre on his owne countrey hoping now that he would be sharply reuenged on his vnkinde citizens But Themistocles being now Lord Generall against his natiue countrey hauing in his power the whole destruction and ouerthrow of his deere commonwealth yet notwithstanding for all that the Athenians had dealt so extremely with him he rather chose to die than any way to hurt his countrey And because he would not shew himselfe a traitor to Xerxes who had put his whole power into his hand and receiued him so courteously in his extremitie nor that he would torment the bowels of his vngratefull citie vnmercifully to spoyle with forraine people his vnkind countreimē to frée himselfe of these two inconueniences hee poysoned him selfe and so died a more faithfull frend to his countreymē than they had deserued After that Demetrius sonne of Philip king of Macedon whom before I spake of had obteined pardon for his father and whole countrey by his great modestie temperance shewed in the Senat of Rome because the Senators did write to his father the king in this maner We the Senators of Rome do not pardō thee for thy owne sake but for the modest demeanor of thy sonne shewed here before vs in the Senate Which thing Philip by the instigation of certaine of his flattering Subiectes did take so displeasantly and gréeuouslie that his sonne was in such estimation and better accounted of than himselfe and therefore so hated his sonne for his great paines and diligent care whereby he preserued both his father and Countrey from the reuenge of the Romanes At whose good hap also certaine of his vnkinde Countreymen with the helpe of his vnnaturall brother Perses so repined insomuch that they procured false witnes to accuse him to his father being willing to heare any cause against his sonne Thus by the surmise of his vnnaturall Countreymen he was condemned to death by his vnkinde father who before had both studied to preserue the honor of his father and also to mainteine the flourishing estate of his countrey Did not the Romanes banish and exile the noble and worthie Cicero by the procurement of Clodius when he had preserued and defended his Countrey from ruine and vtter destruction and saued the noble Citie of Rome from the fury of Cataline euen for because he had put to death the chiefe traytors and enemies of the Common-wealth in that dangerous conspiracie who sought to spoyle sacke take and burne their natiue Citie Rome Was not the same vngratefull Citie Rome found vnkinde to her most deare frend and preseruer the worthie Scipio for when the Romanes were in great distresse thorow the bitter and sharpe warres which the Carthaginians long time most greeuously helde against them being also mightely ouermatched
aliances and families at the handes of the Grecians and suffered with bagge and baggage fréely to passe from the burning towne and slaughtered heapes of their betrayed Countreymen But nowe more rightly to decipher vnfaithfull Aeneas whom Virgil oftentimes in his prophane verses doth call Pius Aeneas as doth appeare in the 3. book of the Aeneidos saving Parce pias scelerare manus non me tibs Troia c. And in the 6. book Principuè pius Aeneas tum iussu Sibyllae Also in the 7. book At pius exequijs Aeneas ritè solutis c. First it is to be considered that Aeneas was the onely man that led doting Paris to that vnaduised enterprise accompanying him into Lacedemon Then afterwards in the greatest extremitie of his Countrimen for sauegard of his owne life he betrayed the towne and was the chiefest instrument to bring aged Priamus to an vntimely death with all the whole Troian State For perceiuing the Greekes meant sharply to reuenge thēselues on the whole race of Priamus for the vile abuse of Paris his leawd sonne Aeneas hauing married Crusa one of the daughters of the said Priamus then knowing the intent of the fierse Greekes presently with willing consent committed his louing wife to the murdering enimie that no let or impediment might be of his owne escape Notwithstanding Virgil alwaies fauoring wretched Aeneas because the Romans deriue the pedegrée from the fugitiue Troyans after a more cunninger sort saith that he lost Crusa his wife in the burning towne altogether against his will when he with his father and the rest of his familie made hast to scape from the persecuting foe Also other of the Romans going about to hide the vnfaithfulnes of their predicessor saie thus of him that at such time as Troy was taken by the Gretians Agamemnon their chiefe captaine greatly pittying the perplexities and miseries of the Captiues made this generall Proclamation in the Gretian tongue that it shoulde bee lawfull for euery Citizen which was frée to conuay and carrie away with them some one thing or other what they themselues would best like of most tenderly loued Aeneas therefore contemning all other things of great valew and estimation carried out with him the gods of hospitality which when the Greekes beheld and considered the vertious gratious inclination of the gentleman as they say gaue him leaue in like manner to take and chuse one thing what be most made of among all his goods riches and possesions Aeneas vsing the benefit of this their mercifull graunt tooke his father being olde and ancient vpon his shoulders and bore the burden of his bodie out of the Citie whereat the Grecians being wonderfully astonished left vnto him the substaunce of all his wealth vndiminished adding these wordes importing a testimonie of their opinion conceiued towards him Pietatem in homines deos exercentibus parentésque reuerenter colentibus c. Such as behaue themselues religiously toward the gods and vse themselues reuerently to their parents must of necessitie make blunt the sharpe edge of the irefull enemie But this sauoureth nothing of the truth for Dictys Cretensis seruing the Grecians against the Troians during all the warre to the intent that he should note the yearly aduentures which fortuned it is to be thought that being a Grecian and in all places setting foorth the worthy praise of his Countreymen to the verie vttermost would neuer so staine y e valor of the Greekes as to say they could not take the Towne by force but were forced to vse trecherous means to obtain their purpose Notwithstanding it might haue béen suspected although he had written that Troy was taken by the Greekes by manly force and stout courage in despite of the Troians that then he had flattered the Greekes his Countreymen whose pen most commonly after the largest manner is giuen to set out their Countries glorie wherefore it is certainly to bee beléeued that Aeneas with his confederates was corrupted and yéelded vp the towne to the enemie or els Dictys Cretensis would neuer so much haue abased his Countrey men as to affirme this Tunc placitum est omnibus fidem dari foedere firmari iureiurando stringi eo pacto vt si oppidum proxima nocte tradidissent Aencae Antenori Vcaligoni necnon liberis coniugibus propinquis amicis suisque omnibus fides seruaretur Then Aeneas as Dictys reporteth being at a point with the Greekes concerning the yeelding vp of the Towne firmely gaue faith on all parts by solemne vowe being bound on this condition that if the next night they yelded their Citie to the Grecians that then both Aeneas Antenor and Vcaligon together with their Wiues Children Families Friends and Kindred with all their goods and riches whatsoeuer should be faithfully spared and right carefully kept from hurt by any of the said Grecians which plighted promise was on either part firmely obserued for the next night Troy was treacherously yelded vp by Aeneas and his traiterous crew and the Grecians according to promise spared the betrayers thereof Notwithstanding the vnfaithfulnes of Aeneas was greatly noted by the Greekes for when hee had betrayed both his aged Prince stately Empire strong towne he could not be found faithful to the Grecians but sought to flowt and mocke them at whose handes he had obteyned life and liberty insomuch that when Agamemnon and Pyrrhus the sonne of Achylles made diligent enquirie and earnest search after Polixena daughter to Hecuba who so vilely had dealt with noble Achylles nowe minding sharply to reuenge his fathers death on that disloyall wretch and therefore earnestly striued to finde her out Aeneas who coulde neither be faithfull to his friendes nor enemies sought out meanes to hide Polixena from the fury of Pyrrhus Achylles sonne but fierce Pyrrhus not ceasing vntill hee had founde her out in reuengement of his fathers death he cruelly sacrificed her on his toomb For which vnfaithfull part of Aeneas as Dictis Cretensis reporteth Tunc Agamemnon iratus Aenea quòd Polixenam absconderat cum omnibus suis à patria protinus discedere iubet that then Agamemnon king of the Greekes being greatly angry wyth Aeneas for that he had hidden out of the way faire Polixena by whose vnfaithfull meanes his good companion noble Achylles was vntimely slaine for which cause he presently commaunded him to depart out of the Countrey and for that hee before had promised him both landes goods and all other things whatsoeuer were knowne to be his owne hee foorthwith compelled him to take whatsoeuer him best liked also to bestow his lands at his own pleasure for there he should no longer stay Thus after Aeneas had betrayed his Countrey he himselfe with the other rable rout of his treacherous companions were forced to wander at sea attending what destiny would bestow on them spoyling robbing in diuers coasts and countries where he landed in the end chancing on the country of Affrica he
tooke land at new built Carthage where Dido otherwise called Elisa was Quéene gouernesse there being by her right friendly receiued willing both him and his companie to vse her Countrey as their owne possessions repairing his shaken shippes giuing freely al necessaries to the whole number of his wandring companions commaunding that nothing should be wanting that might pleasure the distressed Troians her selfe oftentimes vsing to welcome her wearied guest whereby she fel in loue with the comely parsonage of beautifull Aeneas euen so farre as plighted vowe on both partes could assure them Aeneas faithfully promising continuall stay and abode in her Countrey but being a Troian he could not digresse from his vnfaithfull progenitors for thorow his disloyal heart and wandring minde he priuily by night stole away from Carthage leauing the pensiue and sorrowfull Queene in the lurch and to holde herselfe to her owne harmes for which vnfriendly part seeing herselfe so deluded and mocked by the vnfaithfull Phrygian presently slewe herselfe for very griefe which she had conceiued thorowe his vnstedfast promise Notwithstanding the Romans still fauoring their predecessor do affirme to hide that vnfaithfull part that Aeneas was warned in his sleepe to depart from thence and seeke out a land which the gods themselues had predestinated to him and his issue meaning by Italie which he after won by force Thus when he was departed from Carthage and had spoyled and robbed diuers other coastes and Countries at the last landed in Italie where thorow corruption by gifts cruel threats by menacing meanes and also by faire promises and allurements he made such discord and dissention in the Countrey of Italie whereby great slaughters of people were horribly committed insomuch that in the ende he attained vnto the Diademe and Crowne of the whole Countrey firmely establishing himselfe in the kingdome which he by force had taken from the quiet Princes thereof there raigning king vntill hee died whose death the Romans seeming to hide for that as they say hee descended from the goddesse Venus wherefore hee was taken vp into Heauen and there placed amongest the Starres for euer to raigne immortall Then after the death of this vnfaithfull fugitiue his sonne Ascanius raigned also after whose decease Siluius Posthumus his sonne succeeded who as both the Romans and Englishmen do affirme begat Brutus who slew Posthumus his father for which cause being vanished Italie when he had troubled diuers other quiet countries at the last tooke lande in the Ile which then was called Albion of one of the thirty daughters of Dioclesian which landed heere by chaunce and named it Britanie staying the huge and mighty Giants whom the deuills themselues had begotten on Dioclesians daughters as the English histories at this day reporteth a foolish toy for the inhabitants of this noble Ile to deriue themselues and fetch their pedegrée from deuills and then after from the gods First to cōfute this foolish error It is most certainely knowne that there was no such king in Syria who was called by the name of Dioclesian for that no ancient Authour of the Syrians make mention of any such name neither of his daughters which as the English Chronicles at this day affirme were put into a small vessell or boat by their father Dioclesian and committed to Sea without either pilote or guide chauncing to land in this Ile naming it after one of their names who was called Albion as the fond saying goeth and then forsooth this Ile being inhabited with deuills at their first arriuing the sisters were carnallie knowne by the deuills themselues and thereof did spring mightie and huge Giants which afterwardes were slaine by Brutus who descended from the gods as they also affirme Which vaine opinion in like sort is both ridiculous and foolish for that neyther the Commentaries of Iulius Caesar the works of Cornelius Tacitus nor the Histories of Diodorus Siculus who did write of this noble Ile made anie mention at all of any such Brutus being descended from the Troyans neither doo the Romans themselues nor the Greekes write of any one called Brutus before Iulius Brutus who did expell Tarquinius out of Rome which was long since the time of Siluius Posthumus It is also to be considered that if Iulius Caesar who made a conquest of this Ile a thousand and fiue hundred yeares since had then knowne that the people thereof had discended from the Troyans as both himselfe and all the other Romans did no doubt he would not haue made warre against this land but rather haue sought to ayd and succour it But the vanity of the English nation is such to deriue their genealogie from the Troians for that as I haue saide before they sprang and descended from the gods or els to fetch their original from Albion who brought forth huge giants by the helpe of diuells so that they must there is no remedy either descend from the gods or else from the diuells themselues this follie first sprang vp amongst the Romans who chalenged their pedegrée from the Troians which as they say descended from the gods and in like sorte the Englishemen to the intent they would spring from the gods as well as the Romans faine that Brutus sonne to Posthumus one of the Troian stocke arriued in this Ile and named it after his owne name Brytannia which truely in mine opinion can not bee true for that his name was Brutus which if you marke it is altogether vnlike vnto Britannia and to mend the matter also they affirme that first they sprang of deuills a goodly commendation to this noble Ile But for that the proude Romans thorow their vaunting vanity did deriue themselues from the gods which they right well knewe were but earthly kinges for that the heathen kinges in those dayes were called gods notwithstanding since the corruption of the time both the Romans and the Englishmen thinke that they are linially descended from the gods themselues for otherwise the Romans would not be so proude and stately as at this day they are wellknowne to be nor the Englishmen so vaine to challenge their pedegrée or recount their genealogie from the most wicked Troians vnlesse they were fully perswaded that the Troians came from the immortal gods which foolish opinion first sprang from the Romans by ouermuch esteming their progenitors Which fond and vaine errours to confute diuers learned men are of this opinion by studious seeking out of the workes of ancient historiographers that the Greekes when first their Cities became populous waxing rich and puissant after they knewe the cunning Art of Sailing first of al other people found out this Ile naming it Olbion which in Greeke is happie for the abundance of all thinges necessarie that they founde there therefore no doubt but that in so long a time as hath bene since Olbion by the corruption of the continuaunce might well he called Albion or else they at that time finding this land by the white rockes and
in Troy that durst presume Achylles once to meete VVho thus had slaine my noble sonnes and crouded vnder feete The brauest peere of Troy that durst incounter with his force VVith Grecian launce he threw to ground thus had he no remorce But still did striue by martial force to beat the Troyans downe And egerly maintained fight in hope to sacke our towne My sonnes thus slaine the warre increast and bloody sight did growe No Troyan durst within my sight incounter this my foe So that before our walls he marchde with glistring speare and shield Like mightie Mars he oft did dare the Troyans to the field Which made me woe to see him raigne that thus with me had delt Whose cruell hand to our great losse the haplesse Troyans felt A counsell then of matrons wise I presently did call How to reuenge my slaughtred sonnes to counsell straight we fall That fierce Achylles might not vaunt of this his cruel deede Together then we layde our heades in such a time of neede We thus conclude that best it were Achylles to insnare With some fine peece of Venus Court whose beauty shoulde be rare And forbecause the Greeke wel knowne to loue a daintie peece Which I had spide for that before he sayled home to Greece When Agamemnon tooke away sweete Briseis his delight No longer then he would abide nor for the Greekes did fight Till Briseis was againe restorde which thing I wel did note And was right glad that beautie faire could make my foe to dote And forbecause Polixena his sight did wel content When she to fetch her brothers corps to Grecian campe was sent So that at first he fraunted ber when we before had nay And whatsoeuer she did craue was done without delay Which wel I wist wherefore foorthwith my daughter I bedect With gorgeous geare in hope to bring my purpose to effect And presently to Grecian campes a messenger I send Vnto Achylles tent to shew what then I did intend Which messenger I did commaund his arrand thus to tell That Hecuba the Queene of Troy Achylles greeted well And further that he should declare Achylles should inioy My daughter faire Polixena the peerelesse flower of Troy No other wight I do desire for that mine eies behelde The noble valour of the man so tride in Troyan field The Greeke hath often made me glad to see his courage bolde For from the highest walls of Troy I gazing did beholde To view Achylles that braue Greeke so lyon-like to vaunt Before the towne and with his force the proudest foe to daunt And that although my sonnes were slaine in warre by lucklesse chaunce Yet were I glad their hap were such as that vpon his launce To end their liues that no reproch might happen to them dead And that Achylles right wel knew they died before they fled And for their death I nothing grieue for that my sonnes were slaine By such a noble Grecian peere whose like doth not remaine In all the world such worthy fame the peerelesse Greek hath woon Say thus quoth she I shall not rest till that he be my sonne My daughter for the courtesie that she with him did find Cannot forget the benefit but still doeth beare in mind The friendly vsage of the Greeke at whose hands she hath found Such sweet reliefe that euer since to this day she is bound To yeald to him her chiefest friend and willing to fulfill His mind in all respects and be obedient to his will And that because Achilles shall not think my words as vaine VVish him foorthwith to proue my mind and find if I doe faine Appoint some place wish him doe so and there my daughter she And I my selfe his louing friend will then attendant be Achilles knowes that oft I doe to Hectors tombe repare Apollos temple holds his bones in which I haue a care To doe him rights as custome is and yet the church did stand In greenish field without the towne not far from Grecian band In which if that Achilles will Polixena shall stay And I my selfe will come with her to celebrate that day Thus to the Grecian camps I sent my messenger in hast VVho soone vnto Achilles tent in secrete manner past And told him all that I had said who presently with ioy Besturd his stumps and was right glad my daughter was not coy For that when first he made his suite and did my daughter craue The wench was coy and thus replide No Grecian she would haue But now reuiude from former woe the man with ioy halfe mad Did send me thanks and ten times thanks that thus had made him glad I will quoth he be there indeede to offer with my frends For Hector slaine whose death I rue yet vvill I make amends VVith some oblation to his ghost right in his mothers view That she may say Achilles is become a frend full true To vs and to the Troyans all by souldiers faith I sweare It shall be so vvhile life doeth last this mind I still vvill beare And then foorthwith preparde himselfe to offer to my sonne VVhom he before had slaine but novv did vvish the deede vndone Meane vvhile vvhen that I knevv his mind and hauing place so fit I did inuent in secrete sort to cry the Grecian quit For slaying of my sonnes and for a thousand Troyans slaine VVhich vvere my frends for vvhose sake novv such frendship I did faine The presently I cald my sonne vvhom Fortune yet had sparde And made him priuy of my mind how that I had preparde To worke my foe a spitefull part when least he did suspect And sure I was no liuing wight as yet could it detect And thus I said my louing sonne euen as thou art my child And hast a care to wish me well that am thy mother mild And as thou knowest I tendred thee when Priam sentence gaue Thou shouldst be slaine yet I as then sought meanes thy life to saue Wherfore good Paris haue a care to ease thy mothers griefe And that I pine in paine not long before I find reliefe Which soon may be by thy good help wherfore lay to thy hand And shrinke not now in time of need but to thy mother stand Thou knowest my sonne quoth I how that thy brethren both are gone Whom well I loude and now in Troy aliue there is not one That dares so valiantly in field against our foe to fight But trembling we thou knowest it well doe feare Achilles might Euen now the time is come that we may banish feare away For that Achilles hath set down a certaine meeting day To meet thy sister and my selfe with others of my traine What time the wretch doeth make account my daughter for to gaine Apollos temple is the place where Hectors bones doo rest VVhich stands in field vvithout our rovvne a place mistrusted least In vvhich Achilles mindes to be and vovves if that he liue To keep the time expecting then my daughter I should giue
So likevvise I haue promised vvherfore my sonne geue ayd Let not the terror of the Greek make Paris heart afrayd But hie thee to the place and there in secrete sort goe hide Thy selfe before Achilles come so that thou be not spide With vveapon good prouide thy selfe against so fierce a foe And vvhen thou spiest conuenient time then strike the fatall blovv That shall procure the Troyans ease and pleasure to thy frends And pay the debt that Hector ovves to make the Greek amends My sonne as vvilling as my selfe to vvork Achilles spight Did soon consent to my request and thether stole by night And closely by his brothers tombe himselfe he did conuay And there vntill Achilles came in secrete sort he lay Polixena my daughter faire in gorgious vvise I clad For that I knew her pleasant hue would make Achilles glad According to appointed time we passe the Troyan gates With certaine of the Troyan dames we had no other mates And to the temple straight we hide where we Achilles met According to the place and time which he before had set Then did the Greek vs Troyans greete he faind a sober cheere And said he grieud at Hectors death that was so braue a Peere And further that he knew his death was to his mother paine And to his sister whom he loude wherfore quoth he againe I am content to make amends for that which I haue done And that in stead of Hector slaine I mind to be thy sonne And for assurance of the thing by Ioue he did protest That after this by his good will the town of Troy should rest From further war and therwithall his loue he did embrace And fixt his eyes in doting sort vpon my daughters face Not fearing any future hap nor doubting any ill For that in all respects we did according to his will Which Paris spide behind the tombe when hand in hand we went His sword prepard with mighty force through back and side he sent That down Achilles falles right soon all groueling on the ground From gored sides the bloud did flow foorth of his mortall wound There lay the wretch that earst we feard now breathing out his last Whom Paris wild to eager curres should presently be cast For vsing of his brethren so in such despitefull wise Their bodies dead he did abuse before their mothers eyes Wherto my sonne sir Helenus by no meanes then would yeeld How that the body of the Greek should lie in open field Where beasts and foules might feed their fill but craude the Greeks might haue The body of their slaughtered friend to lay in resting graue Which thing was done though vndeserud on vile Achilles part That euer sought by spitefull meanes to slay my wofull hart Then home we came with this reuenge more mery than before For well we wist Achilles fierce should neuer hurt vs more Now Fortune faund on me awhile awhile it was indeed For that the angry Gods against me wretch had still decreed Achilles dead the Greekes afresh fierce war did vndertake And vowed reuenge on all my frends for slaine Achilles sake And on my daughter chiefe of all for working them such spight VVith one consent on either part they faithfull promise plight If that in case our towne they take wherof before they boast My daughter they will sacrifice to dead Achilles ghost But hauing slaine so fierce a foe the Troyans all were glad And craued the field against the Greekes who now remayned sad For losing of so braue a Peere who was their chiefest ayd Wherfore to fight with vs we thought the Grecians were afrayd Yet were we all deceiude for that more fiercer than before The Grecians fought that down there falles on either side great store Their rage was great for to reuenge the death of this their Peere And fiercely fought in desperate sort as men without all feare At last I climde to wonted place where often I had been Yet neuer there but some mishap by me poore wretch was seen From whence I viewd the bloudy broyle which grieude me to behold How that the Greeks and Troyans stout in bloud together rolde At last I spied where Paris was my sonne who then did chase A Grecian Peere Sir Aiax stout who fled before his face Not Aiax Telamon I meane but Oelius Aiax he Whom Paris chasdin open field that all the Greekes might see At last the Greek receiud a wound though he full swiftly flew For that my sonne the flying chase did eagerly pursue A greeuous wound it was indeede for Aiax feeling paine By flight could not preuaile wherfore perforce he turnde againe And did encounter with my sonne who first had made him smart And with his sword O haples hap strake Paris to the hart There died my sonne before my face which Helen well doeth know Who stood with me when that her mate receiude that fatall blow The Greek like bedlem beast layd on for dolor of his wound And stabd my sonne through back and side starke dead vpon the ground Whose corps when that the Greeks had spied with mighty force they run To haue a part of Paris dead for his offences done For well they knew he was the man that stole their Prince his wife Which was the chiefest cause of all that bred that bloudy strife VVherfore each Greek to haue him dead did mightely contend And sure had got my sonne but that the Troyans did defend The mangled corps of Paris dead and kept from Grecian force My sonne whom they would faine haue caught to plague his senslesse corse VVhose life was gone they right well knew but they like hellish hounds Did hunt to haue his carkas dead to plague with grieuous wounds His senslesse corps they could not hurt yet they as men starke mad Of worldly wealth would geue great store so that they might haue had Aliue or dead or but a part to satisfie their will For well they wist he was the man that did Achilles kill Wherefore they fiercely fought to haue the body of my sonne Who slewe Achylles traytrously and first that warre begunne But by the ayde of Troyans stout in maugre of their might The body of my sonne was brought foorth of that bloody fight Whose corps was laide before my face a grieuous sight to see The armes and legs which Greekes hewde off was likewise brought to mee The pale aspect of this my sonne did mortifie my minde That downe vpon the corps I fell in hope some ease to finde For willingly I would haue dide to finish vp my care The gods denide it should be so but still my life did spare For further woe and miserie they meant I should abide Which would to God I had not seene but that I then had dide Faire Helena for this her mate in wofull sort did morne Who was the cause that all the Greekes against our state had sworne All Troy was sad for my hard hap they waile on euerie side Both olde
to braue it out to breed me further paine No that I will not sure digest though I my selfe be slaine And therwithall in feeble fist his speare he trembling held Whose quaking lims by age opprest could scant his weapon weld And at proud Pyrrhus he lets driue his hurtles speare God knowes Wherof strong Pyrrhus might haue born for need a thousand blowes Achilles bastard borne quoth he by this I know thou art That dares presume before my face to play so hard a part Thou wretch thou misbegotten wretch that thus hast shewd thy kind For well I know thou art the man that bearst so bad a mind With that quoth he Neoptolemus my fathers sonne the same That was the bastard and not I for Pyrrhus is my name And for because in time to come thou shalt not vse me so With these hard tearms a token I will geue thee how to know My brother and my selfe apart wherfore thou shalt enquire Ere long of slaine Achilles ghost to proue thy selfe a lier And therwithall the spitefull Greek from sacred place did draw My noblemate by haire of head contrary to all law And through the bloud of his slaine sonne the aged man he drew And right before our sacred Gods my husband deare he slew With fatall blade before my face he piercde his tender side That right against the Gods themselues my louing husband dide The Gods no help at all would geue the Grecian to preuent Nor that the Troyan Prince should liue but they with one consent Did vow his death for former fault and for his sinnes offence No earthly wight for this his sinne could with their power dispence But die he must it was decreed and dreadfull death should end This bloudy war that after none in like case should offend My husband dead I did behold a grieuous sight to see His daughters all bewayld his hap which then did stand with me The cellers deep and hollow caues with wayling all did sound And from the hauty houses tops the Echo did rebound Ah heauy chaunce to see him slaine who was my chiefest ioy The Emperor of Asia great and stately King of Troy Who now lay slaine before my face but being then starke dead With louing zeale on Priam slaine my greedy eyes I fed What hath this princox boy quoth I my louing husband slaine Beside our Gods without reuenge what shall he still remaine Aliue to vaunt of this his deed or brag of such a fact Before the Greeks his cruell mates who ioyes at this his act Ye Gods ye sacred Gods I cride although your wrath be great Against vs Troyans now subdude whose ruine ye did threat For Paris sinne yet haue regard on Triam thus betrayd VVho now is dead by your decree wherfore his debt is payd But now quoth I graunt my request that this vile Greek may rue This cruell deed in time to come that euer he so slue The aged King for reuerence of gray and aged haires VVhose youth was come by yearly course to old and aged yeares Let not the slaughter of a King make proud his hauty hart Nor that he long may make his vaunt of this so hard a part But as your iustice now is seen in so reuenging wrong So Pyrrhus proud by your consent may rue this deed ere long VVhen Priam thus by Pyrrhus sword had breathed out his last And that the town was quite subdude by Grecians fighting fast The Greeks demaund Polixena because she first procurde Achilles death by fained loue through which he was allurde VVhom when they found this Pyrrhus craude to haue my louing child That so had causde his fathers death by working such a wilde But when she knew the earnest suite of fierce Achilles sonne For succour to me helples wretch with vaine hope fast did run VVith clasping armes about my neck on me she cride for ayd For Pyrrhus dead Achilles sonne had made her sore afrayd Help mother now at need quoth she still weeping on my brest A place too weak for greedy Greeks for there she might not rest Grim Pyrrhus with an eager look did teare her from my lap VVith churlish fist he gript the girle O hard and cruell hap That still mine eyes should witnes beare of this my wofull case And that both mate and children deare should die before my face By haire of head Polixena was drawne along the street VVhere diuers of her wofull frends in sorrowing sort did meete To waile with her for well they wist to dreadfull death she went Achilles death now to reuenge they knew proud Pyrrhus ment And as they thought it came to passe for Pyrrhus did deuise Vpon his fathers tombe as then my child to sacrifise Vnto the ghost of his slaine Sire his death to recompence And that Achilles ghost might know it was for her offence Polixena so halde along by such a cruell foe VVhat should become of this my child as then I did not know VVherfore to see I followed fast what would to her betide VVhere round about Achilles tombe a troup of Greeks I spide Which readie were to giue their aide if need should so require My daughters death with one consent each Gretian did desire And there before my face they bound both hand and foote full fast Of this my child that willing was of bitter death to tast But hauing spide me where I stood her hands and feete fast bound In token of her last farewell her head towards me she twound And fixt her eyes on me poore wretch with such a wofull looke With nodding head for want of limmes her last farewell she tooke Then Pyrrhus mad vntill reuenge did drawe his fatall blade And slewe my child vpon the tombe which he before had made In honour of his father dead and there with gorie blood Imbrewd the graue which cruell act did all the Gretians good These words he spake which well I heard quoth he take here thine end Thy soule vnto my fathers ghost for thine offence I send And for the fault of Paris slaine King Priam late did rewe His sonnes vile part for with this hand the aged man I slewe O fortune vile that sparde my life to see this wofull day My friends starke dead whom Grecians slewe in euery corner lay Not one was left to comfort me that could my woe redresse But mourning matrons whose hard hap increasde my heauinesse And last of al the angry Greekes to breede vs further care The traytours of our common wealth from sacke or spoile they spare Aeneas and Antenor he those that betrayde our towne In conquerde Troy had liberty as walkers vp and downe The spoile once had our stately towne with fire fierce did flame The gods decreed my life should last that I might see the same Then did I see our lofty towers consumde with fire to fall In burning houses children cride which number was not small A world of woe to call to minde the latter spoile of Troy When Greekes with fire