as brethren were called Hercules To signify Poetes can well tell This name in conquest all other doth excell By olde tyme they that were pereles For their nobles in diuers regions All they for manhode were named Hercules Such as were noysed for famous champions Tygres to daunt eke boares and lyons And renoumed among them euerychone Bechas affirmeth that Theseus was one First as I sayd by his knyghtly trauayle Whan Athens stode in deuision Among them selues by warre and battayle By his wisdome and his discrecion To set accord within that noble towne Them that were exiled stode in no certeyne He of his knyghthode made theÌ„ resort ayen He gaue theÌ„ lawes wherby thei shold theÌ„ gye Noble statutes founded of reason Set amonge them so prudent policy In their liuyng that no discention Shoulde aryse by none occasion Among them selues in hye or lowe estate Prouidyng euer that there were no debate Thus began the city encrease and multiplye To waxe famous of wisdome and richesse There sprong the well fyrst of Philosophy There first of knyghthode rose the hye nobles By Theseus Bochas beareth wytnes Thus thinges two like as it is founde Cleargy and lawe did there first abounde For to set the citye in quiete He made peace through all that region And of knyghthode he manly did mete The cruell tyrant that called was Creon Maugre him made restitucion Of lordes bones that were at Thebes slayn To the ladyes wherof they were full fayne Thus through Grece his renome spradde His knyghtly fame began to multiply And long in ioye thus his life he ladde While that Fortune list him magnify But aye her ioye is meynt with some enuy For she froward list no more soiourne With Theseus but began her to face tourne Away fro him wexe peruerce and froward Of his glory vngoodly gan to doubul Downe froÌ„ her whele she made go backward Of his good name she gan the fethers pull Whan his noblesse was highest at full I meane the full of his felicitye There folowed an ebbe of great aduersitie And moreouer her frowardly to aquite His vnhaps rehearsyng one by one One the first as Bochas list to endite Was when he lay in Crete among his fone And out of pryson should into Grece gone Repayryng homeward him selfe w tdrawe The Mynotaur whan he had yslawe The first empryse that he vndertoke Was whan he escaped the importable payne Of Mynotaurs like as sayth my boke And w t him had the kings daughters twayne That he of malice falsely list disdayne Ayenst â—ryadne which did him saue From the death whan he lay in the caue Should haue ben slaine had not his socour be In his repayre he toke therof no hede He left her alone in great aduersitye Within an yle in mischefe sorowe and drede And fayre Phedra with him he did lede Wedded her like a forsworne man Thus w t vntruth his mischefe first began How Phedra quither y â— story is well know In his absence Bochas writeth thus Whan that she within a little throwe Loued agaynst kynde her sonne Ipolitus But he to her was contrarious Woulde not assent to so foule a dede For shame he fled percel also for drede To his father she him did accuse As ye toforne haue the story sene And for he did her company refuse He went away and came neuer agayne For ye haue heard how that he was slayne Within a chare through his vnhappy chauÌ„ce And how Phedra through vengeaunce Slough her selfe agaynst all womanhede Here in this boke tofore as I you tolde Of which thing whan Thesius toke hede Thought it was veÌ„geaunce for his offeÌ„ce old For he not quit him like as he was beholde To Ariadne whiche should haue be his wyfe By whose succour he scaped with his lyfe This infortune and this vnhappy chaunce Was to his nobles full contrarious The death also was to him a vengeaunce Of his sonne called Ipolitus For sorow of whom this duke Theseus With salt teares sore began to playne And helde the exequies of the ilke twayne I trowe also it did him sore greue Duke Pirotheus whan he sawe deade Slayne with a beast and myght not releue Of kig Orchus houÌ„d which had a treble head Whose teeth hortible of his bloud were redde Whiche infortune when he gan beholde Vnto the death he felt his hart colde And for to reken the great wretchednes The vnhappy chaunces y â— fell him in his lyfe Among all his other great distresses Was none so mortall and so full of strife As was whan he gaue credence to his wyfe Phedra called whiche of intencion Compassed vntruely an accusation Vpon Ipolytus of hatred and enuy Because he woulde not do so great offence As for to assent to her lechery Therfore of death he felt the vyolence And for his father to sone gaue credence Bochas forbade husbandes all their lyues Without prefe not leue to sone their wyues Neither be to hasty tales for to leue Of flaterers in chamber ne at the table Forgers of lesyngs my auctor doth wel preue To abide w t lordes that they be not able Here on he maketh a chapitle notable And of his wrytyng this was the cause why That prynces should examyne eche party Of wisdome also and of discrecion Without a prefe not be parciall For to a prynce it is confusion If betwene parties he be not found egall Caused many one for to haue a fall â–ª God suffreth such not longe to contune Withdraw their grace hindreth their fortuÌ„e Thus Theseus for his hastines His happe his grace discreased day by day The fame appalled of his worthines And frowarde fortune also in a wayte lay For his defautes to hinder him if she may Cast she woulde his nobles disauaunce And than his kyngdome by disobeysaunce From him w tdrawe honour and reuerence Full frowardlye through all his region They of Athens by cruell vyolence Fyll agaynst him in rebellion That he was fayne to flye out of that towne Thus hath fortune darked the bryghtnes Of all his nobles and cast hym in distresse Thus was the ende by great contrarioustie Of Theseus after hys dayes glade Whan the freshe floure of olde felicitie Fortune aduerse made them for to fade Eche thyng must bowe whan it is ouerlade Worshyp honour whan they brightest shine w t vnware chaunges than rathest do declyne ☞ Lenuoy THe vnsure gladnes the ioye transitory The vnstable surenes the transmutatioÌ„s The clowdy brightnes the false eclipsed glory Of earthly prynces whiche haue possessions Monarchies and dominacions Their sodayne chaunge declareth to vs all Their swete suger is meynt with bitter gall This blynde goddesse in her consistory With her pleasaunce medleth discentions After triumphes conquest and victory Reueth from kynges their scepters crowns Troubleth the people with false rebellions Se these dukes which from the whele be fall Al worldly suger is meynt with bytter gall This tragedy maketh memory Of dukes twayne and of their
rounde about so sore he them beset With men of armes and with his ordinaunce That finallye he brought them to vttraunce And them constrayned within a little space Their life their death submitten to his grace But while they made ayenst him resistence Supposyng his power to withstande Nisus that was kyng of Megarence Ayenst Mynos their party toke on hande And oft times as ye shall vnderstande Whan kyng Mynos did the citye assayle Nisus within with myghty apparayle Vpon the walles stode in his defence Whan that Mynos full like a manly knyght Fought without with sturdy vyolence Like Mars him selfe in stele armed bryght Wherof whan Scilla once had a syght Daughter to Nysus aduertyng his prowes Anone for loue she fell in great distresse She was supprised with his high noblesse His manly force expert many folde Set Scilla in great heauines For loue of Mynos in Poetes it is tolde Made her hart presume and be bolde First her life to put in ieopardy Her fathers life the citye the cleargy From her hart loue hath set aside Ayenst nature her bloude and her kynred And all frendshyp from her gan deuide And of her worshyp she toke no maner hede Loue made her cruell ayenst all womanhede First her hart so sore set a fire Her fathers death falsely to conspyre For kyng Mynos beyng a straungere Was so emprynted in her opinion Of creatures there stode none so nere And for his sake by full false treason She compassed the destruction First of her father and than of the citye So straunge a thing alas how myght it be That a woman of yeres yong and tender Coulde ymagen so marueylous a thing But it falleth that creatures slender Vnder face of angelike lokynge Ben very wolues outwarde in workynge Also vnder coloure of their port feminine Some ben found very serpentyne Lambes in she wyng shadowed w t mekenes Cruel as Tygres who doth to them offence Of humble chere pretendyng a likenesse But wo alas what harme doth apparence What damage doth counterfaite innocence Vnder a mantell shroude of womanhede Whan fayned falsenes doth the brydle lede For this Scilla the kynges daughter dere In whom he set his whole affection His hartes ioy his pleasaunce most entere His worldly blisse his consolation But she all turned to his confusion Not like a daughter but like a sorceresse His death cōpassed the story beareth witnes Her father had a fatall heer that shone Bryghter then golde in which he did assure Manly to fight ayenst his mortall fone For in his head while it did endure He should vainquishe and recure And through his knighthode to his encrese of glory In euery quarel wyn the victory But whā kyng Nysus her father lay a slepe Vpon a night parcell afore day Full secretely or that he toke kepe The heere of golde this Scilla cut away And vnto Mynos armed where he lay She him presented through her ordinaunce Of false entent him for to do pleasaunce But in this matter like as writeth Ouyde Methamorphoseos who so taketh hede Her father sleping she knelyng by his side Toke a sharpe knife without feare or dreade While he lay naked she carft a two his head And stale away of full false entent And to kyng Mynos y e head she doth present And in her commyng to his presence Her fathers head when she afore him layed Nothing ashamed of her great offence Vnto Mynos thus she did obrayed And with bolde chere euen thus she saied My lorde quod she w t support of your grace Yeueth to my tale leasure time and space Certes my lorde loue hath excyted me And constrayned to this cruell dede To slee my father destroye my citie To forget my worshyp forsake womanhead And made me hardy to make my father blede Thinges horrible thus haue I vndertake For to accomplyshe onely for your sake My selfe disherited for loue of your persone Called in my countrey a false traytoresse Disconsolate stale away alone Of new diffamed and named a maistresse Of false murder I bryng a great witnes My fathers head and his deadly vysage Ayenst nature to further your voyage Wherfore I pray that ye list aduertise And consider like a gentle knyght How I for loue towarde your great empryse And to great furtheryng also of your right Haue first my father depriued of his myght Raft him his life dispoyled his riches To do pleasaunce to your high nobles And nothing aske I vnto my guerden Neither to my rewarde that may auayle But that I might haue full possession Of your person most worthy in battayle For there is no treasure y ◠might counteruayle To my desire as that you woulde in dede Goodly accept me and my womanhede Ye may me saue and spyll with a worde Make most glad and most dolorous I not require of you my souerayne lorde But that ye would be to me gracious For bloud and kinne and my fathers house All left behinde if ye list aduert And vndeparted yeue to you my hert Which to your highnes ought ynough suffise All thing considered in your royall estate Conceiued also how in vncouth wise For your loue I stande desolate Saue of your mercy full disconsolate Here is all and some your loue I bye so sore But ye do grace I can say you no more And whan she had her tale tolde knelyng With a maner of pretence of womanhede Of all her treason a poynt not cōcelyng The king astonied of her horrible dede By great aduise peysed and toke hede It was not sittyng to prynce nor to kyng To do fauour to so frowarde a thing With troubled hart and with a face pale His loke vp cast sayed God forbede That euer in Cronicle in story or in tale That any man should of Mynos reade How he supported so venemous a dede Fauour a woman alas and well away Whiche slough her father whan he in bed lay ▪ But for your hatefull and vnkynde rage I praye the gods echone and Saturne For to take vengeaunce on your false outrage Euery where whither ye do returne And euery place where as ye soiourne Lande and sea shortly to expresse They ben enfect with your cursednesse Your owne mouth your outrage doth accuse And your actes ben so abhominable That your giftes fully I do refuse They ben so frowarde and so reprouable That your persone disnaturell and vnstable Within my courte it were a thinge not faire That ye shoulde abyde or haue repaire Ye be so hateful on euery side And contrarious of condicion I praye Cellus which oferth is gide And to Neptunus I make this orison As ferre as stretcheth their dominacion Vnder the bound of their regaly A dwellinge place that they to you deny Whan Minos had his answere thus deuised On reason grounded and equite And Scilla sawe howe she was dispised Knewe no partie passage ne countre To finde socour whether she might flye But dispeired lyke a traitouresse Towarde the see anone she gan her
Gentle bloude of his royall nature Is euer enclyned to mercy and pite Where of custome these vyllains do their cure By their vsurped and extort false poste To be vengeable by mortall cruelte Through hasty fumes of furious courage Folowyng the tetches of their vyle lynage O mighty prynces your nobles do assure Your passions rest with tranquilitie Se how there is no meane of measure Where a tyrant catcheth the souerayntie Let Agathocles your worldly myrrour be To eschue the traces of hys froward passage As royall bloude requyreth of your lynage The .xvi. Chapiter ☞ Howe Cassander slewe the wyfe of Alexander and Hercules her sonne and how Antipater slew his mother of other murders THE greate mischiefe of Fortunes myght The wofull falles fr◠her whele in dede Of prynces pryncesses who so loke aright Ben lamentable and doleful for to rede But for all that Bochas dothe procede In his rehearsayl remēbryng thus him selue To him appeared of men and women twelue After the death of kyng Agathocles There cāe tofore him worthy quenes twain The first of them was called Bersanes And of her mischefe gan to him complayne Wife of Alexander the story lyst not fayne The mighty kyng greatest vnder sonne Whiche by conquest all this world hath won Wife to Alexander was this Barsanes By his lyue as made is mencion Whiche with her sonne named Hercules Wereby Cassander brought to destruction And of her death thys was the occasion Cassander dradde y ◠Bersanes the quene Woulde with her sonne on him auenged bene For his treasons whiche he tofore wrought On Alexander and on hys lynage And specially if that she were brought To Macedone for her auauntage Wyth her sonne that was but yonge of age Cassander thought and drede as I haue told They wold auenge his tresōs wrought of old He cast afore of malice causeles This Cassander most falsely workyng That if this knyght this yonge Hercules Son of Alexander by recorde of wrytyng In Maredone were take and crowned kyng How that he woulde of equitie and ryght His fathers death auenge lyke a knyght Whiche thing to eschue Cassāder gan prouide And by false fraude was not retchles But on a day he list not longe abide Slew first the quene this sayd Bersanes And than her sonne ycalled Hercules Thus by Cassander of murder crop and rote They murdred wer there was nonother bete This crueltie myght not suffice Vnto Alexander by recorde of scripture But lyke a tyrant in vengeable wise He did them bury by froward auenture Where no man should know their sepulture And thus alas whiche pity is to rede He murdred foure out of one kynrede To Alexander he ministred the poyson Slewe the quene called Olympiades And of hatred by full false treason As I haue tolde he slew quene Bersanes Wife to Alexander mother to Hercules Whiche in his youthe by Bochas rehearsyng In Macedoyne was like to haue be kyng After all this he could not liue in pees But euer ready some treason for to do Slewe eke the quene called Roxanes Vpon a day and her yonge sonne to And she was wyfe to Alexander also Cassander dreadyng in his opinion Lest they would venge thē vpon his treason Thus euer he liued in murder sorow strife By way of fraude came all his encrees And as I finde how he had a wife And she was called Thessalonices And this story remembreth doubtles A sonne they had borne atwene them twayne To stea his mother which after did his paine Shortly to passe mine auctor writeth nono-ther Antipater was her sonnes name And bicause that she loued his brother Better then him he to his great defame Cōpassed her death the story sayth the same Notwithstandyng to appese his crueltee She asked mercy knelyng on her knee Her breastes open white and soft as silke All bedewed with teares her vysage Requyred mekely at reuerence of the milke With whiche he was fostred in yong age For to haue mercy and to appease his rage And to accept goodly her prayere To saue the life of his mother dere But all for nought he heard her neuer adele He was to her surmountyng all measure Like his father bengeable and cruell I trowe it was youe him of nature For by recorde of kynde and eke scripture Selde or neuer no braunche that is goode Spryngeth of custome out of cruel bloude Of her death cause there was none other That Antipater slough his mother dere But for she loued Alexander his brother Better than him the cronicle doth vs lere Whiche Alexander if ye lyst to here Had in his succour I finde by writyng Demetrius that was of Asye kyng Thessalonices was in this while dead By Antipater he most infortunate Bathed in her bloud her sides wer made red Without compassion of her hye estate And her two sonnes liuyng at debate Til Lisymachus y t prefect was of Trace Them reconsyled eche to others grace Whan Demetrius knew of their accorde God wot the sothe he nothing was fayne But by his fraude the story beareth record That Alexander maliciously was slayne This while Antipater stādyng in no certayne Tyll he by sleyght of Lisymachus Was murdred after the story telleth thus To write the proces and the maner hough That Lisymachus by fraudulent workyng His sonne in lawe Antipater thus slough False couetise was cause of all this thing And Demetrius toke on him to be kyng Of Macedone remembred tyme and date Whan both brethren were passed into fate Duryng this murder all this mortal strife In this proces like as it is founde Of Antipater Erudice the wyfe Daughter of Elenchus was in chains boūde Cast in pryson darke hydous and profound And for a whyle I leaue her there soiourne And to Demetrius I wyll agayne returne Which made him selfe to be crowned kyng Of Macedone through his great puissaunce But to destroy his purpose in workyng There were thre princes notable in substaūce Confederate and of allyaunce Echone assented for short conclusion To bryng Demetrius to destruction One the first was worthy Tholome Kyng of Egypt in armes full famous Other twayne the story ye may se Called Seleuchus and next Lisymachus And of Cypre came the kyng Pyrrhus Lorde of Prouynce as it is eke founde They made thē strong Demetrius to cōfoūd Shortly to tell with their apparayls Of Macedoue they did him fyrst depryue Game vpon hym with four strong battayles That he was neuer so ouerset in his lyue Take of Lisymachus the story doth discryue Cheyned in pryson of his life in dout For I not finde that euer he issued out ☞ The .xvii. chapter ¶ Of the two prefectes Perdicas and Amintas NExt in order Perdicas did appere Whilom prefect of great Babilon And w t him came Amintas eke yfere An other prefect as made is mencion Whiche Bactry had in his subiection A great prouince youe him by iudgement Midde of Alia towarde the occident These sayd twayne for their worthines And for
all Inde conquered in substaunce Atwene him and king Lisymachus Of whom tofore is made remembraunce Began a warre and a great distaunce And as they met with their apparayles In a great felde ordeyned their battayles On Lisymachus fyll the disconfiture Wherof Seleuchus glad in especiall Dempt his winnyng came not of nature But by influence very celestiall Gan waxe proude in his estate royall Not supposing in his victorious stall Of his mischeues that should after fall For as the processe declareth vnto vs How of Egypt the great Tholome Brother in lawe to Lysimachus Fyll on Seleuchus by full great cruelte Slew him at mischefe the story ye may se Loste his lyfe as made is mencion In Macedoyne the mighty region And it is know of antiquitee By rehearsayle of the olde auctours That this foresayd great Tholome Was to Alexander one of the enheritours Kyng of Egypt there raignyng in his flours After whose name descedyng downe by grees Were all the kinges called Tholomees As I fynde touchyng his lynage By procreacion he had children thre The first of them to speake in playne langage I named was Ceraunius Tholome Next Philadelphus a daughter Arcynoe That wedded was by her faders coÌ„sentyng To Lisymachus of Macedon kyng The .xx. Chapter ⧠Howe the two sonnes of Quene Arcynoe were by their mothers brother trayterouslye slayne and she exyled ANd thus remembred in bokes olde Death of Seleuchus wrought by Tholome Vnwarely slayne tofore as I haue tolde Next in order came Arcynoe To John Bochas by great aduersite All with teares bedewed her vysage And gan coÌ„playne the coÌ„straynt of her rage This mighty quene the sayd Arcynoe Had sonnes twaine full famous of renoun The tone Lisymachus excelling of beautye That other Philip as made is mencion And her ioye and dilectation In worldly blisse there is no more to sayne Was holy set vpon these children twayne For by the occasion of their great fayrenes Men delited greatly them to se Namely women the story dothe expresse And their mother this quene Arcynoe Stode in great hope that they should be Mighty kynges by iust succession In Macedony the mighty region Onely by the title of their fathers ryght Whiche to her hart gaue full great gladnes For she dempt that none other wight To succede should haue no entresse But Fortune the blynde false goddesse Disposed so for her children twayne That none of theÌ„ their purpose shold attayne For whaÌ„ their father Lisimachus was slaine The sayd quene called Arcinoe To saue her lyfe coulde none other gayne But with her sonnes fearfully to fle Into Cassander a mighty stronge citee Onely for drede of one Antigonus Whiche theÌ„ pursued the story telleth thus But the brother of quene Arcynoe Called Ceraunius rescued her party Agayne Antygonus ye may the story se Yet in his hart he had great enuy Albe that they were nere of one alye That her two sonnes should kynges â—e Of Macedoyne and raygne in that countre For he was set onely of couetise To be crowned in Macedoyne kyng And of his false treason the story doth deuise Them to disâ—â—yue this was his workyng First to the quene full humbly knelyng He made promise vnder great surete In Macedoyne she should crowned be And her children so fayre of their vysage Should be kept vnder gouernaunce Vnto time that they came to age And for to put her in more assuraunce Ceraunius swore god geue him sory chaunce He purposed for all his false workyng To crowne her quene make her soÌ„nes king Toke all the gods therunto witnes And swore agayne with a plaine vysage Vnto the quene of fraude and doublenes His purpose was to haue her in mariage Crowne her quene to her great aduauntage Thus he swore all be he was her brother Yet in hart god wot he thought another Vnder colour of this assuraunce She let him enter Cassandre the cite Came again him to do him more pleasaunce With all her lordes of hye and lowe degre Made the stretes hanged for to be With clothes of golde in solemne wise To all their goddes she did sacrifise And thus he was receyued solemnely The day was halowed and holde feastiual The quene for ioye ordeyned rychely Her two sonnes that were so faire in all To be crowned with crownes full royall Go afore her in the maister strete Gloriously their vncle for to mete With felonous hart vnder a frendly face This Ceraunius rote of all treason Gan his cosyns benâ—igly embrace Him purposyng by false collusion To procede to their destruction And fynally fyrst he did his payne The quene texyle slea her chyldren twayne But or this treason was brought to a prefe Whan the quene apperceiued his falsenes And saw her sonnes brought to mischefe She coniured him 〈◊〉 her mortall distresse To haue pitie of naturall gentilnes Spare his cosins afore him where they stode Of royall mercy so nere borne of his bloud And with a crye paâ—yng 〈…〉 She fyl afore him â—wownyng 〈◊〉 ground Like as she had be 〈◊〉 culpable Seing her sonnes bleadyng w t many wouÌ„de But all for nought there was no mercy fouÌ„d For with their bloud this story is not fayned Her garment was dolefully distayned Her face fayre was foyled with ordure Her golden heere was all to torne rent And like a thrall this wofull creature With mortall wepyng had her sight blent And after that I fynde how she was sent To bury her children for there was no space Into an yle called Samothrace Is any story whiche maketh mencion That a pryncesse of so hye degre Founde so great cause of lamentacion She beyng daughter to great Tholome Her children slayne by vengeable crueltie And to beholde the death most dolorous Of her husbande called Lisymachus â–ª She after banished in exyle made her ende w t sorowful coÌ„playnt her life thus draw aloÌ„g Tyll into fate her spirite did wende It is no drede her paynes were full stronge And if I shoulde rehearce all the wronge That she suffred it woulde greue me to sore Therfore of her now I write no more ¶ Lenuoy THis tragedy sheweth an apparence And a lykenesse of faythfull assuraunce Excyte men to yeue false credence Vnto fortunes false variaunce Which cast her baytes angles of pleasaunce An hoke hid vnder of vengeable crueltie As this chapiter put in remembraunce Of Lisymachus and of Arcynoe Is there any greater euidence Of worldly trouble or worldly constaunce Than to se prynces from their magnificence And from their mighty royall puissaunce Vnwarely brought by fortune to mischauÌ„ce And ouerwhelmed from their tranquilitie Se here a myrror full notable in substaunce Of Lisymachus and quene Arcynoe The ryng the anker of great excellence yeâ—â— to Seleuchus for marciall suffisaunce Whan Appâ—â—â— by heauenly influence Lyst with his mother make his alyaunce Sent hiÌ„ these relikes of singuler acquaintaÌ„ce To set his manhode in more surete But in al such quaueryng acquayntauÌ„ce Thinke on Lisimachus and Arcinoe The vncouth
But through fortunes mutabilite That blind lady so made her power stretche As he began to ende lyke as a wretche Reken the estates of worldly regaly NoÌ„bre of meyny golde treasour richesse Stately castels paleys on eche party CoÌ„quest by fortune cumbinge to hie noblesse Cruel sworde conueyed by wyifuinesse Power extort with couetyse oppressyng Causeth destruccion of many earthly kyng But in contrary who lyst hym selfe knowe And is by grace inclined to mekenesse Though he in pouerte be brought vp lowe And is by vertue enclined to worthynesse With scepter of peace sword of rightwisnes Indifferently his domes demeanyng Suche one is able to be cleped a kyng What is chefe cause grounde and occasion That princes ofte stande in ieopardy Of worldly chaunges in suche diuision Reygnyng amonge them y t serpent of enuyâ— Symulacion faynyng flatery The south out serched who so lyst to loke By many tragedy expert in thys boke The .xxxi. Chapter ¶ Howe Bitynctus kyng of Auergnoyes by the Romains was taken and died in prison BItynctus next of Auergnoyes kyng Came tofore Bochas ginnig his coÌ„plaint Of his distresse thordre rehersyng And howe that he was made feble and faint Againe the Romains mischeuously attaint Nat withstanding to maintayne his quarel He cast of pride agayne them to rebell But it is first put in remembraunce How Auergnoyes is a nacion Hanging on Gaule longeth vnto Fraunce Of which Bityncte stode in possession Hauing dispite in his opinion To the Romains in any wise to obey But proudly cast againe them to werrey His labour was to stande in franchise And be at large from their subiection Gau of pride their lordship to dispise Gadred people of presumption Whom for to mete Fabius was sent doun A mighty consul which knightly toke on haÌ„de For theyr party Bitynctus to withstande Of whose coÌ„myng Bytictus toke dysdayne By cause the folke whyche Fabius dyd lede Were but fewe and whan he hath them seyne He sayd of scoru this people who taketh hede May not suffise my houndes for to fede WhaÌ„ they be slayne to fewe they be in noÌ„bre With multitude y t I shall them encombre An hundred thousaÌ„d in hys vaoward he had That passe shoulde of Auuergne the ryuere And fowerscore thousande beside that he lad the Consul Fabius met him with good chere Whan he was passed of Rodanus y â— daâ—gere Fought al the day tyll it drewe to night The Romayns wan their fone put to flyght At the ryuere lyke as saieth the boke There were drowned brought to mischauÌ„ce Fyfty thousande as they water toke Through fortunes frowarde variaunce And by attaynt tencrease of his greuaunce Bitiâ—â—tus take was of the Romayns Dampned to prison there to dye in chayns ☞ The .xxxii. Chap. How the tyrant Euergetes wedded quene Cleopatra slewe her eldest sonne exyled hys wyfe and wedded her doughter AFter whose deth pitously to rede sene Of Epiphanes the great Tholome Came the doughter Cleopatras the quene Gan complayne her greate aduersitie Her sorowe furious diffaced her beaute Her chekes whyte of blode teares meynt Rent w t her haÌ„des were pitously bespreint To Philometor she wedded was aforne Whylom sonne to Tholome the kynge And by her lorde in true wedlocke borne Two sonnes she had as by olde wrytyng After whose deth anone vp suynge To Euergetes a prince yonge of age She was agayne ioyned in mariage By title of her in Egipt lorde and syre Kyng of that lande cruel and dyspytous Whose story sheweth no kigdom nor Empire May of them selfe make no man vertuous For lyke a tygre this tiraunt furious Her eldest sonne day of their mariage Borne to be heire he slewe of mortal rage Not longe after this extorte cruelte Albe they had children atwene theÌ„ twaine Out of Egypt he made her for to fle And of malyce he gan at her disdaine I trowe she had matter for to plaine He toke her doughter whan y t she was gon Agayne nature and wedded her anon She called was Cleopatras also But Euergetes to she we him more veÌ„geable Againe her mother that was fro Egipt go The citie which was to her fauourable The people exyled he wode vntretable In her dispyte gaue that notable toun Of hateful malyce to a straunge nacion But whan he know through his cruel dedes And gan conceyue howe he was culpable Sawe againe hym y â— many folde hatredes And conspiracion of states honorable He at large to be more vengeable Game Cleopatras to gyn an vncouth stryfe Went in to exyle wyth hys newe wyfe Gadred people his olde wyfe to assayle On her chyldren to shewe more vengeaunce A day assigned helde with her battaile But which of them was driuen to vttraunce Myne auctour plainly put not in remeÌ„brauÌ„ce But suyng after thus of him I rede Howe of malice he wrought a cruel dede Which to reherce is nouther good ne fayre But terible and abhominable He dismembred her sonne and hys hayre On peces smal this tirauÌ„t most vengeable And whan the mother sate at her royal table With body and heed at a solempnite Let her be serued of frowarde cruelte Wherof al Egipt had indignacion And for to auenge his cruel great outrage They toke his plates basnet haberion And his cote armure wrought of gret costage Fro their temples rent out his ymage In token he was a tiraunt most attaint Eche thing diffaced y t was of him depaint Whose hateful story replete of wretchednes Full of vengeaunce fro warde mischeues Therfore I deme Bochas lyst not expresse More of his life fulfylled of al repreues Of Cleopatra wrote not the fynal greues In this chaptre what fatal way she toke Lest y â— matter shoulde difface his boke ¶ The .xxxiii. Chapter ¶ Howe Jugurtha by entrusion was kynge of Numedy slew y â— rightful heires after he hym self was drowned AFter thys woful deadly auenture Of Cleopatras whose storye is full olde Came Jugurtha the manly man to lure And to Jhon Bochas hath his tale told Of his conquestes and dedes manyfolde Subtyl of wyt as myne auctour sayeth Gaue lytel force for to breake his fayth But in ordre the story to conuay Of Jugurtha and of hys kinted Massmissa kyng of Numedy soth to say His vncle was and also as I tede The sayd kyng had a sonne in dede Called Mysipsa eldest in wrytinge After his day to reigne as kynge This Massinissa ordayned afterwarde Tofore his deth of hole entencion By cause Jugurtha was borne a bastarde To depriue him of al succession In his Testament but in conclusion His sonne Mysipsa afterwarde made kynge Was to Jugurtha frendly and louynge Mysipsa had two sonnes as I fynde The tone of them called Adherbales The seconde the story maketh mencion Was that tyme named Hyempsaies Wyth whom Jugurtha put him selfe in prees For to abyde dwell in especial Lyke as their cosyn in their corte royal Cherished full wel bycause y e he was wyse And right
liege men of Thebes citezynes Made ayenst him conspiration Put him in exile and his wife also His sons daughters brought to destruction And to the encrease of his mortall wo He and his wife compelled bothe two For very pouerte and very indigence In their last age to purchace their dispence Thus of Cadmus the sorowes to discriue And his mischiefe to put in remembraunce He banished was twise by his lyue First by his fathers cruell ordinaunce Of his sister to make enquiraunce And alder last in his vnweldy age He was compelled to holde his passage Out of Thebes his wife and he alone In sorow wepyng to accomplishe their daies Into Illery togither they be gone Their pacience put at fell assayes Whose bitternes felt none alaies Also of their ende and vnhappy fate Ne of their death I finde none other date Saue that Ouide maketh mencion And Iohn Bochas the poete excellent Say that two brethren zethus and Amphion Out of Thebes by one assent Haue this Cadmus into exile sent His wyfe also after their high noblesse To ende their life in sorow and wretchednes But the Gods of mercy and pitye WhaÌ„ they theÌ„ saw by fortune thus cast doun From their estates into great pouertie Hauyng of them full great compassion They made of them a transformacion Of bothe twayne them yeuyng a likenesse Of serpentes to liue in wyldernes ¶ Lenuoye OWhat estate may him selfe assure For to conserue his life in sikernes What worldly ioy may here long endure Or where shall men finde now stablenes Sithe kinges princes froÌ„ their high nobles Record of Cadmus ben sodeÌ„ly brought low And from the whele of fortune ouerthrow Who may susteyne the pyteous aduenture Of this tragedy by writyng to expresse It is like to the chaunte plure Beginnyng with ioy endyng in wretchednes All worldly blisse is meinte with bitternes The sodayn chauÌ„g therof may no man know For who sytteth highest is sonest ouerthrow Was in this world yet neuer creature Reken vp princes for all their hygh noblesse But fortune coulde enclyne them to her lure And them enperishe through her frowardnes Wherfore ye lordes w t all your great riches Beware afore or ye daunce in the rowe Of such as fortune hath froÌ„ her whele throw The .viii. Chapter ☞ A processe of Oetes kyng of Colchos Iason Medea Theseus Scilla Nisus and other mo WHan Iohn Bochas was most diligent To consider the successions Of lynages withall his entent In his writyng and discriptions To compyle the generations Of many noble famous of estate I meane of suche as were infortunate In his serchyng he founde not out a fewe That were vnhappy founde in their liuynge To his preseÌ„ce anone there gan hym shewe A multitude full piteously wepynge Among whiche full dolefully playnyng Came forthe Oetes hath coÌ„playnt beguÌ„ne Kyng of Colchos and sonne vnto the sunne For of Phebus which is bryght and clere Poetes write that he was sonne and heyre Because he was so myghty of power So freshe so lusty so manly and ryght fayre But of fortune he fell in great dispayre Cursyng his fate and his destayne When Iason first entred his countrey againe By Pelleus sent from Tessaly There to accomplishe by diligent labour The great emprises through his chiualry If God and fortune list do to him fauoure That they might winne the excellent treasour This is to meane that he were so bolde The ram to assail which bare y â— flece of gold This Iason through counsaile of Medee By sorcery and incantacion The bulle slough horrible for to se And vainquished the venimous dragon The kyng dispoyled of his possession Accomplished with carectis and figures Of Colchos the dreadful aduentures And afterwarde when he his purpose had He left Oetes in full great dispayre And Medea forth with him he lad And her brother which was the kyngs heyre But as I finde howe in his repayre Out of Colchos whan they gan remue Kinge Oetes after them gan sue Vpon Iason auenged for to be Without tariyng he folowed proudly The whiche thing when Iason did se This Medea gan shape a remedy She toke her brother and slewe him cruelly And him dismeÌ„bred as bokes make minde And piecemele in a felde behinde She gan him cast all bespreint with bloude Wherof his father when he had a syght Full pale of chere still in the felde he stode While she and Iason toke them vnto flyght I trowe that tyme the most wofull wyght That was on liue whan he did know His childe dismembred and abrode ysowe Whiche cause was alas and welaway That he so stout as man disconsolate While that Iason fro Colches went away And Medea most infortunate Was rote and ground of this mortall debate For who saw euer or redde of suche another To saue a straunger list to slea her brother Forsoke her father her countrey and kinred The lande emperished through her robbery Of her worshyp toke none other hede Loue hath her brought in suche a fantasy And while that she abode in Tessaly And with Iason did there soiourne She made Eson to youth returne A yarde she toke that was drie and olde And with her herbes and commiâ—tions She made it boyle in Ouide it is tolde And by charectes and incantacious And with the craft of her coniurations The yarde began to bud and blossome newe And to beare frute and leaues freshe of hew And semblably with her confections His olde humours the hath deputed cleane And with her lusty freshe pocions His empty skynne tremblyng and right leane Pale and wanne that no bloude was sene But as it were a deadly creature All this hath she transformed by nature Made him lusty and fresh of his courage Glad of hart liuely of cheare and syght Right well chered and clere of his vysage Wonders deliuer both of force and myght In all his members as weldy and as lyght As euer he was in the same estate By craft of Medee he was lo alterate After all this ayenst kyng Pelleus She began to maligne vncle vnto Iason And of enuy she proceadeth thus The kings daughters she draweth to her anoÌ„ Them counsaylyng that they should gone Vnto their father playnly vnto him sayne If he desired to be yong agayne Full restored his force to recure And therwithall in lusty age floure She behight to do her busy cure Lyke his desire to helpe and socoure And in this matter so crafty laboure Fynally stande in the same case To be made yonge as his brother was Touchyng whiche thing for more euidence This Medea hath to the daughters tolde Of entent to yeue the more credence She bade theÌ„ take a ramme y â— was right old And wyth a knyfe for to be so bolde To slea the beast before them there he stode And in a vessell drawe out the olde bloude Fullye affirmyng like as it were true That he should be a lambe agayne For she by craft would his bloude remue In such wise by
hye renounes And of their loue write a great history And how they conquered diuers regions Gouerned cities countreyes also townes Tyll fortune their prowes did appall To shew their suger was meint w t bitter gal Prynces pryncesses se how deceptory Ben all these worldly reuolutions And how fortune in her reclinatory With her treacle tempreth false poysons So marueilous ben her confections Of frowardnes she wyll what so befall Euer with her suger of custome temper gall ¶ The .xiii. Chapter ¶ Here Bochas writeth agaynste them that geueth hastye credence to lyers and flatterers IN this chapter Bochas in sentence Repreueth blameth not onely princes But all them that lyghtly geueth credēce To euery tale and fable whiche is Reported vnto them for sothfastnesse And list nothing do as it were due To proue the truth were it false or true All though so be in euery maner age Folkes ben diuers of condicions To turne plye and chaunge in their courage To outher party with sodayne mocions And for to bowe by transmutations With euery wynde as the vnstable leaues Which hang on trees in forestes in greues But of al chaūges y ◠chaunge is most to drede And most fearfull is that variaunce Whā that princes whych may the people lede Ben founde vnstable in their gouernaunce For their nobles and their hye puissaunce Assureth them by a maner of forme What euer thē list to accomplyshe performe To cōmen profite they most may aueyle Whan they ben ruled by wisdome and reason And to the people they may most disaueyle Whan they lacke wytte and discrecion Thus betwene twayne in euery region The people draweth who that can discerne To good or badde as prynces them gouerne They may not be to hasty ne to sodayne But do all thyng by good aduisement Kepe thē fro tonges y t parted be in twayne Not be to hasty to geue no iudgement And of folkes whan they ben absent Lieue no tales ▪ neither geue no credence Tyll that the party may come to euidence Sumtime hath happed that slowe credence Hath in some be founde full noyons But hasty credence I dare say in sentence A thousande folde is more perillous For vnaduised all haste is odious For haste full oft for lacke of reason Of muche people hath ben destruction There is no domage that men can purpose More to be dradde nor more lamentable Than a prynce his eares to vnclose To euery tale and euery fable It is a token their hartes be not stable Whan they to flatterers their eares do apply Namely to suche that can well forge lye Folke ben diuers some false some true In diuers studies done their busines Some can study and finde out tales newe And some for lucre can maintayne falsenes And holde vp quarels ayenst ryght wisenes Pretendyng truth vnder a false entent To hinder folkes whiche ben innocent Men to suppose it were a great folye That folkes shoulde in their opinion Speake or pronounce all on one party Or holde one way in their intencion For semblably as there is a diuision Of courages of hye or lowe degre So is there truly a great diuersitie In rehearsall or report of a thing For to his party eche man is fauourable Some man can say well in al his rehearsyng Some man is double and some disceauable Some men say true and some be variable Wherfore a prynce of ryght as it doth seme Should well examen before that he deme For there is none more dreadfull pestilence Than a tonge that can flatter and fage For wyth his cursed crabbed vyrulence He enfecteth folke of euery age Wo to tonges froward of their langage And wo to tonges false furious and wode Which of no person neuer can say good Bochas rehearseth it is right well sittyng That euery man other do commende And say the best alway in reportyng For in well saiyng no man may offende Where men say well god will his grace send After as men be mē must their praise vpraise Like their merites alowe them or disprayse But where a thing is vtterly vnknowe Let no man there be hasty of sentence For ryghtfull iudges sittyng on a rowe Of their wisdome and of their hye prudence Will of trouth haue first some euidence I meane such as gouerned be by grace Or any dome forthe of their lippes pace A prynce should assemble thinges twayne Within him selfe full prudently Shut vp the domes betwene lockes twayne One of the soule to reason for that party Prudence chosen and right for the body And betwene them bothe or he geue sentence To counsayle call truth and good conscience First to consider wyth euery circumstaunce And diligently do theron his laboure Of discrecion to take the balaunce And first wey out who is the accusour And whether that he for falsenes or fauoure In his processe list to procede Hereof a prynce must of ryght take hede He must also consider by and by What he is that to him is accused And whether the accusour be frend or enemy Or whether he shal be accept or refused In his actes this must afore be mused And whether he be by report of his name A man well noysed or slaundred by diffame If Thesius thus had ben auysed And considered of reason the manere He had not so hastely deuised His sonnes death like as ye shall leare For if there had assembled be in fere In his person prudence and reason He shoulde haue sene in his descrecion By knowlegyng of long experience Of his wyfe the great vnstedfastnes Which through her false compassed eloquence Was ready euer to bryng folke to distresse And in his writyng Bochas beareth witnes Of their nature women can flatter and fage And be sumtyme to copious of their langage Also of wisdome duke Thesius Should haue considred afore in his entent How that his sonne called Jpolytus Of all vnclennes was founde euer innocent And how that he by custome made his went Into forestes durynge his yonge age To hunt at beastes which that were sauage Rennyng on fote as ye shall vnderstande On hilles and valeys to eschue idlenes Mother of vices with his bow in hand Diana to serue of huntyng chefe goddesse Sumtime to hauke he did his busines Also vnto fishyng greatly he was applyed So that his youth was neuer vnoccupied Thus he liued in woodes solitary And of Venus dispised the seruice Among women he would neuer tary Their felowshyp he did alway despise For he demed by sentence of the wise Who toucheth pytche by a saye men may se It fayleth not he shall defouled be Jpolitus sawe wel this thing before Kept him at large from such contagiositie His grene youth he would not haue it lore To be defouled for lacke of chastitie For he liued euer in virginitie And neuer did Bochas will not vary Nothing that was vnto God contrary Thus of entent he kept his body clene Duryng his life both in thought and dede Whose mother was Jpolita the
Cynarus hath his daughter founde And cruelly began enhaunce his hande With his sworde to geue her a wounde But the goddes of mercy most habound Hath fro the death made her to go fre And through their power traÌ„formed to a tree Which after her beareth yet the name Called Myrra as she was in her life Out of whiche aucthours say the same Distilleth a gome a great preseruatife And of nature a full good defensife To kepe bodies from putrifaction And them franchise from all corruption By influence of the sunne beames Myrre is engendred by distyllyng of his kind With round dropes ayenst Phebus streames And doun discendeth through the hard rinde And through the riftes also I finde The sayd Myrra hath a childe forth brought In all this worlde if it were sought Was none so faire formed by nature For of his beauty he was pereles And as Poetes recorde by scripture He called was the fayre Adonydes And to his worshyp and his great encrees For he of fairenes bare away the floure Venus him chase to be her paramour The whiche Goddesse gaue to him in charge That he should in his tender age In forestes while he went at large Hunt at no beastes whiche were sauage But he contrary to his disauauntage Through wilfulnesse I can say no more Was slayne vnwarely of a Tuskye boare At the whiche he felly did enchace But of folly in vayne was his laboure For he lay slayne full pale of chere and face Whom Venus turned to a full freshe stoure Whiche was as bloude of purple the coloure A budde of golde w t goodlye leaues glade Set in y â— middes whose beauty may not fade And whan Myrra froÌ„ Bochas was w tdraw And declared her great aduersitie And of her fate tolde the mortall lawe Came Orpheus full vgly vnto se Sonne of Appollo and of Calyope And appeared with a full dolefull face Sumtime brought forthe yborne in Trace Full renoumed in armes and in science Famous in musike and melody And full notable also in eloquence And for his soote sugred armony Beastes and foules as poetes specify Wodes floudes of their course most strong Stynte of course to harken his sote song An harpe he had of Mercurius With the whiche Erudice he wanne And to Bachus as write Ouidius Sacrifices solemnely he began And vnto hell for his wife he ran Her to recure with sote touches sharpe Whiche he made vpon his heauenly harpe But whan that he this labour on him toke I lawe was made which that bouÌ„d him forâ— That if he backeward cast his loke He shold her lese and se her neuermore But it is sayd sythen gone full yore There may no lawe louers well constrayne So importable is their deadly payne If some husbands had stand in the caas To haue lost their wiues for a loke sodayne â—hey would haue suffred and not sayd alas â—ut paciently endured all their payne â—nd thanked god y â— broken was the chayne â—hich hath so long them in pryson bounde â—hat they by grace had such a way founde â—olye in pryson it is a ful great charge â—nd to be stocked vnder key and locke â—t is meryer a man to go at large â—han with yrons to be nailed to a blocke â–ª But there is a bonde that called is wedlocke â—ettryng husbandes so sore that it is wonder â—hich with a file may not be broke asunder But Orpheus father of hermony Thought Erudice y â— was his wife so fayre For her sake he felt that he must dye Because that he whan he made his repayre Of her in trouth nothing embraced but ayre Thus he lost her there is no more to sayne And for the coÌ„straynt of his greuous payne At his hart her partyng sate so sore The grene memory the tender remembrauÌ„ce That he would neuer wine no more So fayre he was escaped his penaunce For wedlocke is a life of muche pleasaunce But who hath ones infarnall paynes sene Will neuer after come in the snare I wene This Orpheus gaue counsaile full notable To husbandes that haue endured payne To such as ben prudent and tretable One hel is dredful but more dredful is twain And who is ones bounde in a chayne And may escape out of daunger blyue If he eft resort God let him neuer thriue Vpon this sentence women were vengeable And to his writyng full contrarious Sayd his counsaile was not commendable At the feast they halowed to Bachus They fill echone vpon this Orpheus And for all his rethoryke swete They slough alas this laureate poete And of his harpe if ye lyst to heare The God Appollo made a translation Among the ymages of the starres cleare Wherof men may haue cleare inspection But fortune to his confusion Denyed him frowarde of her nature Whan he was slayne fredome of sepulture Next Orpheus there did appeare also Of Amasons worthy quenes twayne Merpesia and her sister Lampedo Whiche in conquest did their busy payne And great worshyp in armes did attayne Namyng them selues by writing nere farre Doughters to Mars which is god of warre Merpesia rode out in regions And conquered full many a great citye For couetise of great possessions To encrease her lordshyp if it would be And her sister kept surely their countrye Of all enemies so that there was no doubt While Merpesia rode with her host about But while she was in conquest most famous â–ª And her enemies proudly did assayle Fortune anone wart contrarious And caused that she was slaine in battayle Lo what conquest or victory may auayle Whan that fortune doth at them disdayn Se here ensample by these quenes twayne ☞ Lenuoy THis tragedy remembreth thynges fyue Of Narcissus the excellent beauty And of Biblis dothe also discriue The great luxury and dishonestye Myrra diffamed turned to a tree To exemplify that lechery and pride Ben from all vertue set full farre aside How Orpheus endured in his liue Joye entermedled wyth aduersitye In his youth whan he did wyue He felt in wedlocke full great felicitie His worldly blisse meynt with duplicitie As fortune her chaunges can deuyde Whiche from all vertue be set full farre aside Merpesia for her list to stryue Wyth wylfull warres to encrease her couÌ„tre But her pompe was ouerturned blyue Whan in battayle vnwarely slayne was shet For of all warre death is the fyne pardee So furious Mars can for her folke prouide Whiche from all vertue ben set farre aside Ye mighty princes let witte and reason dryue Your high nobles to consider and se How fortune estates can depryue And plonge theÌ„ downe from their prosperitie Pride and luxury I counsayle that you flye Falce auarice ne let not be your gyde Whiche from all vertue is clene set asyde ¶ The .xvi. Chapter ¶ Of Priamus kyng of Troye and how the monke of Bury translatoure of this boke wrote a boke of the siege of Troy called Troy boke AFter these complayntes and lameÌ„tacions Which that Bochas did in his boke coÌ„pile Medled
away besyde And at the siege lyst no lenger abyde Lucullus then the myghty Consuler Pursued after slew of hys meyne Such a multitude that Asopus the ryuer Was made with blode lyke the reed se w t winde tempest fordriuen also was he And when he saw no succour in the lande To shyp he went w t strong and mighty hand He founde fortune cruell aduersary On lande and se this worthy Mithridate And Neptunus made the see contrary Agayns him his puyssaunce to abate What shall men call it influence or fate So sodaynly a prynce of hye renowne Fro hye noblesse to be plounged downe For any mischefe he kept aye one visage This Mithridate and lothe was for to plye Or for to bowe so stronge was hys corage But efte agayne goth with hys chiualry Towarde Adrastus an hyll of Armeny Where as Pompey beset hym enuyron Sent fro Rome to his distruction Mithridate makyng his lodgyng place Vnder that hyll when it drew to nyght The troubly heuen w t thuÌ„dring gan manace The firy leuyn dyrked hath hys syght The cloudy moue eclipsed of her lyght Astonied hym by vnware violence That he stode confuse of all prouydence He was by tempest and vnware derkenesse Almost made wery of hys wofull lyfe Yet I fynde of very kyndnesse Hipsicrata whiche that was hys wyfe Nouther for werre nor no mortall stryfe Left him neuer disguysed of vysage Folowed him arayed as a page Yet in hys most mortall heuynesse Whan cloudy fortune gan him most manace Of his corage the naturall quickenesse Appaled nat nor remeued from his place So hie prowesse dyd hys heart enbrace Nat dispayred for no sodayne fall Of condicion he was so marciall In token wherof he standyng at mischefe Chaunged nouther chere nor countenaunce An euidence and a full great prefe Of manly force and heartely assuraunce Defiyng fortune with all her varyaunce Whan that he founde to hys distruction Of dispayre greatest occasion With hym he had a baylife as I fynde Called Castor whiche of condicion Was to his lorde false and eke vnkynde And conspired agayne him false treason In token wherof vp to Rome toun Hys lordes children yonge tender of age â—yke a thefe he sent them in hostage One of his sonnes he murdred by treason Which Mithridate toke ful sore at herte Another sonne as made is mencion False to his father which whaÌ„ he did aduerte The vnkyndnesse made him sore smerte For of all vyces shortly to conclude â—orst of al is hatefull ingratitude This same childe of whom I make mynde Called Pharnax whych agayne nature To his father traytour and vnkynde And his purpose agayne hym to recure In al hast dyd his busy cure For to accomplyshe his purpose in party Drewe to him hole his fathers chyualry By sleight mede whaÌ„ he was made strong He besieged his father rounde aboute Vnto nature me semeth he dyd wrong To put his father in so great a dout Kyndnesse was ferre shyt wythout Whan the sonne wyth hate set a fyre Agayne his father falsly dyd conspyre Wyth multitude his father was constrayned Maugre hys myght in to a toure to flee Hys sonne vnkynde hath at him disdained And yet for al his straunge aduersite Of his corage the magnanimite In his person stode hole lyst not vary Though fortune was to hym contrary Yet myne auctour Bocas beareth recorde That Mithrydate if it would haue be Requyred his sonne to be at accord And set asyde al olde contrariouste But he vnkynde indurate was parde Euer frowarde malycious of corage So disposed from his tendre age So that the kyng Mithrydate alas Was ouercome by vnkyndenesse That neuer afore in no maner caas Stode dismayed but of hye prowesse Kept aye one face all passions to represse This vertue force by marcial doctrine For none aduersite suffred hym declyne Ende of his werres his mortall stryues Of his debates and discencions Hys concubines his daughters hys wiues By meane onely of certayne pocions Slewe them al by drinkynge of poysons For he not woulde the cause to dyscriue After his death they shoulde byde on lyue Hys owne death of mortall fell rygour Compassed afore thus he gan deuyse Made a french knyght y â— was a soudiour With a sharpe sworde in ful cruel wyse To ren him through wherby the frauÌ„chyse Conserued was his purpose to fulfyl He woulde not dye but by his owne wyll Lo here the ende of kyng Mithridate Let princes all of his deth take hede Howe rechelesly he passed in to fate And by assent made his herte blede And Bochas here who lyst hys boke to rede Playnly rehersynge but in wordes fewe To worldely princes doth his coÌ„ceyte shewe ¶ Lenuoye MYghty prynces lyfte vp your corrages Towarde heauen doo youre hertes dresse Of your memory turne vp the vysages Wher ioy is euer peace concorde gladnesse True armonye celestiall swetnes Counterpayse in your remembraunce Worldly chaunges fortunes variaunce Aduertise the mortal fell outrages Of blody werres impossible to repres Whyle false enuy wyth his furious rages In sondry realmes hath so great entres Slaughter murdre deuision falsenes Which conscience haue brought to vttrauÌ„ce Through soden chaunge of worldly variauÌ„ce Reken vp princes that sate hye on stages What was the fyne of their royall noblesse Or of tirauntes reken vp the blody wages Sodaine slaughter guerdoned their wodenes Mithridate can beare hereof wytnes By blode vnkynde brought vnto vttrauÌ„ce Through soden chauÌ„ge of worldly variaunce Prynces remembre vpon the golden age Whan Saturne ruled y â— worlde in rightwisnes Next Jupiter for peoples auauÌ„tage The silueren worlde conserued in clennes Which Mars hath nowe turned to felnes Made it steelen w t sworde dagger launce Through soden chauÌ„ge of worldly variauÌ„ce Of Mithridate regestre the vyages Conspired poysons taffray his prowesse On land and see tempestious passages By coÌ„straynt bode .vii. yere in wildernesse Of his wandrynge payse the vnsykernes Hys ende myschefe knewe no auoydaunce Gayn worldly chauÌ„ge nor fortuÌ„es variauÌ„ce If neglygeÌ„ce haue brought you in rerages Towarde God or he reken in streyghtnesse Let reason medle for you to lay hostages Compassyon mercy partynge of almesse Towarde heuen to support your feblenesse Whan your merites shal paise in balaunce Of worldly chauÌ„ges fortunes variaunce Deth spareth nother hye nor lowe lynages Haue mynde heron for any rechelesnes Transitory be here your pylgrimages Set with brigaÌ„ts vnwarely you toppresse But of prudence by great auysenesse Wyth prouydence preserue your puyssaunce Gayn worldly chauÌ„ge fortunes variaunce ☞ The .iiii. chapter ⧠Howe Eucratydes kynge of Sythie was slayne by Demetrius and after his carayne cast to houndes NExt in ordre to Bochas dyd apere A woful prince that put hym selfe in prees Reignyng in Sithia his story doth vs lere The name of whom was Eucratides But to disturbe his quiet and his pees Agayne him plainly as I fynde Came Demetryus y â— myghty kyng of Inde Of whom the power
for him a space To lyue in earth and so long endure Tyll that he knowe and se his owne face And for his sake full many a seruituâ—e By ordinaunce of god and of nature Whan they him se shall fele full great payne If they in loue his grace may not attayne But he shal be contrary and daungerous And of his port full of straungenesse And in his hart right inly surquidous By the occasion of his natife fayrenes And presumyng of his semelinesse No woman so freshe ne so fayre of face That able were to stand in his grace And for the excellence of his great beantye He purposed him in his tender age Neuer in his lyfe wedded for to be He thought him selfe so fayre of vysage For whych he cast through his great outrage Agaynst all lustes of loue to disdayne To hunt at beastes alone and be slayne And in this whyle that he kept hym so In the forest and in wyldernes A water goddesse that called was Ecco Loued him full hote for his fairenes And sikerly did her busines To folow his steppes ryght as any lyne To her desyres to make him to enclyne He heard her wele but he sawe her nought Wherof astonied anone he gan to enquere As he that was amarueyled in his thought Sayd euen thus is any wyght now here And she aunswered the same in her manere What euer he sayd as longeth to Ecco Without abode she sayd the same hym to Come nere quod he and began to call Come nere quod she my ioy my pleasauÌ„ce He loked about among the rockes all And sawe nothyng beside ne in distaunce But she abrayed and declared her greuaunce And to him sayd mine owne hart dere Ne be not straunge but let vs dwell in fere Nay nay quod he I will nothing obey To your desires for short conclusion Well leuer I had playnly for to dey Than ye should haue of me possession We be nothing of one opinion I here you well though I no fygure se Go forth your way ye speake no more w t me And she ashamed fled her way anone As she that myght of him no socour haue But dispayred this Ecco is forthe gone And hidde her selfe in an vgly caue Among the rockes is buried in her graue And though so be y t men her voyce may heare After that time she neuer durst appeare Thus Narcissus through daunger disdeine Vpon the lady did cruell vengeaunce But whan the Goddes his cruelty had seiâ—e Towardes him fyll a great greuaunce Of his vnmercy they had displeasaunce And right as he merciles was founde So w t vnmercy he caught his deadly wound For all daunger displeaseth to Venus And all disdayne is lothsome to Cupide For who to loue is contrarious The god of loue will quite him on some syde His dreadfull arrowes so mortally deuyde To hurt and mayme all that be retchlesse And in her seruyce founde mercilesse And for Narcissus was not merciable Towarde Ecco for his great beautye But in his port was founde vntretable Cupyde thought he woulde auenged be As he that her prayer hearde of pitie Causyng Narcissus to fele and haue his part Of Venus brande and of her fiery darte And on a day whan he in wildernes Had after beastes runne in huntyng And for longe labour can fall in werines He was desirous to haue some refreshyng And wonders thurstlewe after traueylyng Myght not endure lenger there to dwell And at the last he founde a cristall well Right freshe springyng wonder agreable The water lusty and delectable of sight And for his thirst was to him importable Vpon the brynkes he fell downe ryght And by reflection in middes of y e water bright Him thought he sawe a passyng faire ymage To hym appeare most angelyke of vysage He was enamoured with the semelinesse And desierous therof to stand in grace And yet it was not but a lykelinesse And but a shadowe reflectyng of his face The whiche of feruence amorously tembrace This Narcissus with a piteous complaynt Start into the well and so him selfe dreynt And thus his beauty alas was layed lowe His semelines put full farre abacke Thus whan he gan fyrst him selfe knowe And sene his vysage in whiche was no lacke Presumptuous pryde caused all to wracke For who to much doth of him selfe presume His owne vsurpyng wyll sonest him coÌ„sume And finally as these olde Poetes tell This Narcissus without more succour After that he was drowned at the well The heuenly goddes did him so fauour They turned him into a full freshe floure A water lilly whiche dothe remedy In hote accesses as bokes specify After that Narcissus was at the well dreynt And to John Bochas declared had his wo Biblis appeared with teares all be spreint And toward him a great pase gan she go And her brother Camnus came also And of one wombe as gemelles twayne But she tofore her fate gan complayne She in her loue was not vertuous For ayenst God and kyndes ordinaunce She loued her brother named Camnus And whan he sawe her froward gouernauÌ„ce He vnto her gaue none attendaunce Though she of sleyght to accoÌ„plysh her enteÌ„t In secrete wise a pistle to him sent She sayd it was an impossible thing Without his grace her selfe to saue And but he were to her assentyng She els playnly may not health haue But onely death and afterwarde her graue Thus in her writyng to him she did attame And to be couert she ne wrote no name But whan this pistle came to his presence Vertuously therat he gan disdayne And gaue therto no maner aduertence Neither toke no hede of her furious payne But suffred her eternally to playne Tyll that she was as Ouid can wel tell With oft wepyng transformed to a well Next came Myrra wyth face full piteous Whiche that sumtime loued ayenst nature Her owne father called Cynarus For whose sake great payne she did endure For she â—e durst her sorowe not discure Tyll her noryshe by sygnes dyd espy The hartily constraynt of her malady For her nourice of whiche I haue tolde Conceiued hath by open euidence As she knoweth both of newe and olde In suche matters all hole the experience That through long labour and great diligeÌ„ce Diuers wayes and meanes out she sought To her fathers bed that she Myrra brought With whom she had her lust and pleasaunce For she vnknow lay with him all nyght He was deceaued by dronklewe ignoraunce And on the morow longe or any lyght She stale away and went out of his sight With her noryce whiche kept her long close Till vnto the tyme that her wombe arose But her father that was of Cypre king Which as I tolde was called Cynarus Whan he the truthe espyed of this thing That by his daughter he was deceiued thus She waxt to him loth some and odious Fledde from his sight so sore she was aferde And he pursued after with his swerde In Araby the hote mighty lande Kyng