in his mind Foorthwith he told Tuiston that he needs Should then return vnto his land againe Alleaging causes of no little force Which olde Tuiston could not well gainsay But as he could he moou'd him yet to stay But no intreatie would with him take place Now were swift ships and all things in the port To carie these two princes into Greece Aye me what tongue what Tullie can expresse But halfe the dolor of this dismall day Three times Tuististon kissing his sweet childe Bedew'd her cheekes with his Christalline teares Three times he would haue said sweet child farewell In steed of which came three heart-renting grones Then charg'd he her her husband to obey And at no time to falsifie her faith Then praid he him to loue his louing wife By whom he once should gaine so great a Crowne But now the ships alreadie were lanch'd out And they on boord now must they needs away Poore issulesse Tuiston cried out Like louing Nurse whose babe is tooke away Repenting that he euer had bequeath'd His daughter to Palemon King of Greece Who had her caried from her Fathers land Whose only comfort and delight she was Accusing one while Fate and senile age Who would not suffer his vnweldie iointes Through Neptunes real me to follow his deare child Long time lamenting thus vpon the shore Viewing the pines which caried them he stood And when they were sailde fullie out of sight Vnto his Pallace sorrowfull returnde And as a Turtle Doue when she hath lost Her louing mate so seem'd he to lament Refusing solace voyd of earthly ioy And at the last his life in griefe did end Seuen times Aurora with her ruddie cheekes Saw yoong Palemon sayling with his loue Seuen times in Skies night-bringing Vesper shone By which their sailes the mariners did guide When turrets high began to shew themselues From Pallas temple in coast of Greece To which aire-beating Austers flying steedes Did quickly drawe the saile-supporting pines Who can expresse but halfe the ioy which Greece Made when Palemon safely there arriu'd Shril Trumpets blew bels rang loud Ecchoes pierc'd The loftie skies at their arriuall home And now Palemon who hadst such a Queene A peerelesse spouse with vertues rare enricht Now mightst thou haue most luckiest bene cald Of all the Monarks vnder cope of heauen But no man may be called fortunate Before his death and latest dying day Securely now with his most royall Queene Luld fast a sleep in sweet contentments bed Raign'd king Palemon when blisse-hating Fate Prosperities arch-foe stedfast in nought But in wauering vnstedfastnes it selfe Enuying alwayes Princes happie blisse And smiling at great Monarks ouerthrow Now chang'd sweet dimples into wrinkles fell Thrise after their arriuall into Greece Faire Cinthia in decreasing had increasde Her wained hornes and with full circle showne When sudden newes from Germanie was brought That olde Tuiston lately was deceast And that Palemon should without delay Go take possession of that royall crowne Which was his Queens inheritance by right This thing to doe Palemon was not slacke Fearing delay might mickle danger bring Accompani'd with many of his Peeres He shipping tooke and cut the foming seas Leauing his wife vnto the regiment And conduit of a graue and senile man Eristo cald of whose fidelitie And truth he thought he needed not to doubt Perswaded that his youthfull time was past And that his age on beautie could not dote Not knowing that the Canker soonest eates The milk-white Rose and that corruption doth Soon'st enter into gray and hoary haires Palemon was now in the Germain coast Eristo with Iulina his sweete Queene Who seeing her in feature to exceede All other wightes which nature euer fram'd Old cankred Carle gan on her beautie dote And youthfull Cupid rousde vp his olde limmes By outward signes which he did daylie showe But outward signes with him could take no place At length not able to suppresse these flames Which kindled were in this old rotten stocke Presumptuosly he then by sweet requestes Did her intreat to yeeld vnto his will Thou seest quoth he Palemon is farre hence And swet desire inflames my youthfull mind Yeeld therefore to Eristos humble suite Whose life vpon thy mercy doth depend And olde Eristo shall himselfe confesse As much as life indebted vnto thee She dying with a red vermilon hue Her milkie face and snow-surpassing cheeks Auaunt old Carle quoth she presumptuous Earle A traytor false to King and louing prince Auaunt old foole whose yeares full many moe Then vertues are whose age with vice abounds Dar'st thou in thought but wish thy loyall Queene Vnto thy King to falsifie her faith No know Eristo know Iulina scornes Besides Palemon anie Loue to haue Know that she scornes all other Monarks loues Much lesse Eristoes crime-embracing Earle Away depart from chaste Iulinaes sight Lust-breathing traytor crime-committing Carle Assure thy selfe by mine vnspotted faith And by Palemons Princely head I sweare Assure thy selfe thou shalt a terrour be To all adulterous Earles in time to come How they dare moue their chast soueraign Queen To lewd desire and this thy foule offence Shall punisht be with more than mortall plagues Eristo then departed in a rage And by reuenge sought how to wreak his vvrath A false reporte he presentlie raisde vp That he had seene Iulina guiltie Queene With Lord Alpinor playing Venus games Which thing to make more credible he hir'd A treacherous Knight the same for to affirm Foorthwith he tooke Alpinor spotlesse Lord And caused him in dungeon to be throwne He guiltlesse was and knevv at all no cause Why vnto him such rigor should be showne Then sent he letters vnto his dread king How that the Queene defiled had his bed And with Alpinor traiterously conspir'd To murther him and take from him his crowne And that thou maist thinke this no forged tale I saith he with Calingo saw them both Like Mars and Venus wrapt in Vulcans net Vpon thy bed when Cupid strooke the stroke Ah how these newes apall'd Palemons mind His youthfull mind impatient yet of griefe Three times he shook his griefe praesaging lockes Lockes neuer woont so furiouslie to mooue Not Tantalus amid the fleeting waues Nor wretched Ixion with his rowling wheele No damned ghost amid Don Plutoes lake Did suffer half the tortures which he did Now did he call to mind Iulinaes fame Her vertues rare and neuer-spotted name Who said first Lunas steeds shall guide the day And Tytans night then Ile be false to thee One while againe he called into mind Her heauenly shape and heart-alluring forme And that Alpinor was a youthfull Lord. Then of what force sweet Venus fire was Which oft had causde the chastest gods to yeeld Much lesse Iulina but a mortall imp And therefore prone and easily ouercome Long time quoth he was Dido counted chaste Yet by request Aeneas made her yeeld So hath Iulina to Alpinors suite What's of more might then Venus fierie loue This in a rage
poor wretch yet at the length Delay did somewhat mirigate her woes Whom now hemd in a laberinth of griefs And heape of cares a while I meane to leaue Now of her birth hard haps and parents liues And natiue soyle wherein she now remaind And famous progenie I meane to speake In these seas O my Muse let saile thy barke And in this ground let run thy wagon wheeles Agenor once which ware the royall crowne And diademe within this land of Greece Summond by fate to appeare before the ghostes And stroken with deaths fame outracing dart Now at last gasp vpon his fatal bed Readie to die his sonne vnto him cald His only sonne Palemon whom he left To weare his crowne and sit vpon his throne He cam◠Agenor tooke him by the hand And shedding teares thus dolefullie gan speak Thou seest my sonne how death now summons me T'appeare before the supreame king of kings Oh see my son how Atropos extendes Her hand euen novv to cut in two the thred I must depart the Fates wil haue it so Ingraue thou therefore in thy youthfull mind Thy dying fathers last and latest words This kingdome now fals vnto thee by lot And in my steed thou must this throne possesse Be therefore wise and as thou knowst I haue So be thou carefull of thy subiects wealth Giue vice his due and vertue his rewardes And that thy progenie may also sit Vpon this throne and weare thy royal crowne Choose thee a wife equall to thee in birth Respecting vertue and not greedy gaine More for her wisdome fame and chastitie Then riches forme and transitorie shape So shall our progenie for euer sit In this high seat and weare this royall crowne This said such death presaging pangs opprest His dying heart that speech was tooke away At length great Iuno pittying his estate Sent many-colloured Iris downe from heauen Of life Dame Iris quickly him dissolu'd Straight to a sigh huge death bringing grone Out flew his breath and to the ghosts gan poste Ay me how did this sad and gastfull sight Apale Palemons yong couragious mind Thrise fel he down and thrise againe was tooke Half dead frō ground so nature in him wrought Yet when this dolor gan it selfe remooue And cloud of griefe to vanish from his mind He comfort tooke and for his buriall rites And funerals all things he soone preparde With regaltie and worthie such a prince And Potentate were speedily dispatcht He caried with a noble troope of Peeres In mourning weedes to Pallas temple rich And there in Marble royally entombde Shortly met all the Noble men againe And princelie Peeres this mourning laid aside And with one minde as was his right they made Palemon king in olde Agenors steed The set the Crowne vpon his youthfull head And princelie Scepter in his regall hand He gouern'd them and to them he gaue lawes He was their Lord he was their onlie king Three times had Ver expelling Hiems frosts Refresht the earth which like a Chaos were Three times againe had blustering Hyems nipt The fragrant hearbs which Ladie Ver had brought When gouerning the famous land of Greece And quite forgetfull of his fathers wordes His Lords and Princes gan him wisely mooue To take a wise sprong of some royall bloud Alleaging that it would commodious be To him and not vnpleasant vnto them A sonne to see begotten of his seed So being olde yet should he still be young So being dead he still in them should liue And furthermore say they thy neighbour King Tuiston high in Germanie who raignes One daughter hath a Virgine passing faire In vertue wealth in birth and natures gifts Excelling rich most royall and renownd Who after him shall weare the imperiall crowne And by ambassage to thy father sent Who lately hath her proferd to thy wife And if so be thou minded art to saile To Germanie to see this sacred impe whose vertues rare shril Fames loud-sounding trump Hath almost blazed throughout all the world Weele guarde thee thither and a fit time now It is it was spring tyde to cut the seas He straight wayes moou'd at these his Princes words Burnt in desire to see this virgin rare But by Embassadors he minded first To know Tuistons mind and whether she Was not betroth'd to an any other king For els his welcome might haue bene but colde His sute denide and all his labour lost Embassadors he therefore sent in haste Who speedily returnde with gladsome newes Newes that Tuiston greatly would reioyce And be most glad to see him in his realme Palemon hereat leapt for ioy in mind And for his iourney all things soone preparde And royally with manie of his peeres Did shipping take and cut the Caerule seas And in short space winds furthering his intent Arriued at Tuistons Germain coast Soone heard Tuiston that Agenors sonne Was in his realme and comming towards his court Who speedily with all his valiant peeres Came foorth to meet and welcome this great prince Iulina also for so called was Tuistons daughter guarded on each hand With troups of Ladies faire and gallant imps Impsable euen to make Adonis yeeld To welcome this yoong Prince came with her Sire She went ah not vnlike in view she went To Regall Iuno wife of kingly Ioue Had Venus bene among them Venus would Haue seemd to her inferior farre in shape In pregnant wit she Pallas did surpasse And to be briefe more coy and chast she was Then that groue-haunting goddesse who delightes In menacing the wilde and sauage beasts Palemon saw her and he was amaz'd At her rare forme and excellence in shape Her looks her gesture and mind-pleasing words Allured so his captiuated minde Accusing Fame one while whom then he thought Too partiall was in sounding her due prayse And whom euen now he did but wish to see As greatlie now he did desire to haue Which in short time I studie to be briefe He did obtaine to both their sweet contents Their wedding day appointed now was come I will not tell here what triumphant shewes And ioy was held throughout all Tuistons land The higher sort in honour of their Queene On Coursers braue their valiant prowesse shewd The rusticke crue made bonefiers in their streetes The pastorall troope made fieldes with duties sound But that dayes pleasure soone gan passe away His fiery steeds now Tytan did vnyoke Her pitchie steedes now Luna did bring foorth Night summond wearie limmes to take their rest This princely couple layd them down in bed Most ioyfully But oh vnhappie time O lucklesse night the spousall wife of Ioue Was not here present Hymon was not here Eumenides and Furies present were And from the chamber top in hellish notes The Screech owle sang a lamentable song Twise with full circle twise with wained hornes Did Cinthia see Agenors sportiue sonne Courting Iulina his new wedded wife And froliking in olde Tuistons Court When sudenly a great desire to see His countrie Greece was kindled
glorie fame and courtly wealth Poore Mylo nipt went with a flea in's eare And to his Lord recountred all her words Told what opprobrious and reprochful tearmes She had him giuen and how she him contrould Oh rascal quoth he what newes bringst thou mee Couldst thou so heare thy Lord to be reuilde Couldst thou heare him be scorned of a drugde And country trull and see it vnreueng'd Goe villaine slay kill stab pierce through that hart That strumpets heart which dares me so reuile Why runs thou not But stay let her alone With more than present death I will her plague Go Mylo say thou heardst her swaynish Sire That Soothsayer vile speake treason vnto thee Say that he said Palemon was by right No lawfull king but did vsurpe the crowne Say that that strumper did the same affirme And cause them both in prison to be cast Ile warrant thee my wordes before the king And thine shall be ynough to make them die Poore Mylo runs and causeth them foorthwith By th'Officers in prison to be cast They both exclaim'd and knew no cause at all Why so great rigour should to them be showne They curse that ship that shattred boord and bulke Which sau'd their liues from drowning in the seas But now the day that dismall day was come Wherein offenders should receiue their doomes The king himselfe as Iudge sate in the seat For since the time he euer vsde to doe Wherein his wife so falslie was accusde Next him Earle Dryan false Eristoes sonne Cassander who now wandred pilgrim-like From place to place and had no one abode Heard that the king himselfe in iudgement sat And came to heare and see what there was done When Thirsis and poore Flora were brought out Accusde by Mylo treason to haue spoke They did denie he stoutly did approoue And manifest the words before rehearst They surely haue saith false Dryano spoke These treacherous words or why should Mylo lie He is my seruant and long time hath bene I haue had proofe of his fidelitie I neuer yet in one thing found him false And well I know no treason he will hide And blame them not though they themselues excuse It doth concerne the losse of goods and liues Palemon foorthwith mooued at his wordes A fatall doome against them both pronouc'd Condemning Flora to reuenging flames And Thirsis on a gibbet to be hang'd A gibbet was erected by and by Where malefactors should receiue their bane There faggots lay wherewith offenders should Which had deseru'd the fire be iustly burnt Cassander when he saw this sweet-fac'd maid To be condemn'd waxt heauy in his mind He knew her not as yet but yet his face His ashie face began to change the hue Now Flora was bound to a fatall stake And Thirsis mounted on a gibbet high Each of them gan their latest words to speak And first of them old Thirsis thus began O mightie powers by whose most dreadfull doom I crimelesse wretch condemned am to die Graunt now at my last gaspe I pray you graunt That my clear ghost which heauen earth do know Vnguiltie is of this so foule a crime With spotlesse sprites may euer liue in blisse And as for Flora whom vnguiltie wretch You haue here made copartner of my doome Whom all men thinke to be my childe and whome I call my daughter she me louing Sire I now make knowne for now I will disclose My secretst thoughts she is not mine owne child But keeping flockes within th'Arcadian boundes By Humber streames I found her in a boat This Ring with her I found which yet I weare A chaine I found which I haue left behind And purse of gold which gold I haue disburst I brought her vp and when she came to age A Graecian Knight stole her away from me I missing her made after her straitwaies And thought to fetch my sweetest child againe But mercilesse he pluck'd me into ship And caried me perforce with them away VVhen suddenly a stormie Orion rose Mangled our ship and drowned him in deepe VVe two by cleauing on a broken bulke VVere brought by chance to sacred Delian Isle And by Apollo both of vs were sent Vnto this land vnluckie land of Greece And now accusde vniustly to haue spoke Most treacherous words against Palemon king VVhich heauen and earth and all therein can tell VVe neuer thought and they I hope they will Require our bloud at our accusers handes Cassander when he heard old Thirsis tell This sugred tale did leap for ioy in minde His frostie lockes his snow resembling haires Gan change the cullour and looke yellow now And to be briefe his face with red was deck'd And look'd as yoong as euer he had done So Venus did him metamorphose then So Cupid did his Deitie make knowne And now he surely knewe she was his loue Scarce ah scarce could he then refraine himselfe From kissing her and taking her in armes But yet perforce himselfe he did with-hold And thought to see what further thing wold chance Palemon harkened vnto Thirsis words And caused him from gibbet to be brought Inquiring of him at what time he found The infant in a barke on Humber bankes He told the time Palemons heart gan leape And willed him to shew the foresaid ring He shewed it him he strait way knew it was The verie ring which he gaue to his Queene Then charg'd he to bring Flora vnto him And ouercloyd with this so sudden ioy Imbraced her fast in his aged armes And kissing her bedew'd her with his teares O my sweet child Iulinaes ofspring chast My daughter sweet quoth he whom raging seas Tooke pittie on and waxed mild and calme With blustering winds did greete with gentle blasts And Eolus with pleasant lullabies Who hast at length out-worn Fates frowning force And not thought on art found of me againe Come with thy Sire sport in thy fathers court Palemons court Now let Palemon die Now let me post to chast Iulinas ghost Sith I haue found mine ofspring now her childe Ay me saith she my noble king and Sire For all this ioy how can I sportiue bee Sith by a villaine thus I am defam'd Dryano lately as I fed my flockes Past by mee and enamored with my shape Sent word to me that I should to him yeeld Whose messenger I with disdainfull words Sent backe againe to his detested Lord. And therefore to auenge himselfe on me These slaunders false against vs both deuisde Now then Palemon O if ere thou didst Loue that chast Queene who was my mother deare If thou doest loue thy new-found daughter now Vpon these traitors let me be aueng'd Kindled with rage he straitway caused them To be arraign'd who strait the crime confest Blood-thirstie ofspring quoth this angry king Lust-breathing traitors progenie-vniust Whose father sought to violate my Queene And nilling yeeld to his vnchast desire Did slander her and falsly her accuse And therefore hanged was as he deseru'd And thou his issue treading in his steps Hast not aberred from his treacherous actes But slaundered hast her child my daughter deare In that she did thy wicked lust contemne Now therefore as Pandion and thy Sire Were iustlie martyrd for their foule offence So Mylo and Dryano now shall be A iust reward for all such traitors false Then tooke they them before sweet Floras face And hanged them in aged Thirsis place Now saith Palemon Daughter come to me And frolike with thy father in his Court Thou seest the traitors are already hang'd What makes thee looke so sad ah tel it me Ay me saith she what comfort can I haue Sith sweet Cassander drowned is in seas He was my loue and I his sole delight Would I were stil a Swaine so that he liu'd He liues quote he and caught her in his armes He liues saith he preserued from the seas O my sweet Flora art thou yet aliue Tis thy Cassander which imbraceth thee What tongue is able to expresse that ioy Which Flora made when she beheld her loue What Tullie can with eloquence declare That ioy which he made when he saw his loue What Homer with his quaint Pernasius verse In greekish stile can halfe those ioyes expresse Which olde Palemon made when as he saw Cassander his found daughters sweet delight And woondrous glad that Flora had found out So braue a Knight sproong of so noble race With great solemnity he wedded them Deposde him selfe and gaue the Crowne to him He made olde Thirsis famous in the land And much renown'd through al his Greekish realm Who sent for Mepsa who was yet aliue She came to him to their immortall ioy Ech one was glad each one contented was And long time liu'd and dy'd in endlesse blisse FINIS